Pacers Bring Local Star Braden Smith

Indiana Pacers just pulled off a local gem, bringing in Braden Smith from Purdue in a trade with the Chicago Bulls — a move that sends him straight down I-65 to Indy. With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for the 2025-26 season, Smith is poised to step into the backup point guard role, stepping right into a system built for his style. The Pacers’ offense already thrives on spacing and shooting, giving Smith the perfect stage to play his game without overthinking. This isn’t just a roster upgrade — it’s a homegrown win for Indiana, keeping Purdue talent rooted in the state as other former Boilermakers await their NBA futures. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6066d1f50e7e2401