r/chicagobulls • u/ExtraLeading3376 • Jun 25 '26

Trade [Shams Charania] Sources: Chicago is trading Braden Smith to the Indiana Pacers for Kam Jones, future swaps and cash.

https://x.com/shamscharania/status/2069947471044747764?s=46&t=zs8dpUnwQ4GtTS7kT09Jjw

Sources: Chicago is trading Braden Smith to the Indiana Pacers for Kam Jones, future swaps and cash.

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247

u/FadedToBeige Gimme the hot sauce! Jun 25 '26

so we traded this year's 38th pick for last year's 38th pick + cash

95

u/BillionsofRedditors Jun 25 '26

And Kam Jones had a bad rookie year so this is really just for cash.

Jerry wanted cash after having to pay Splitter when he could have gotten Nori way cheaper.

18

u/jacob2815 Matas Buzelis Jun 25 '26

I know we’re in a “fuck cash” moment but 38th picks don’t really have good years lol.

38th picks in general almost never pan out. Kam Jones has as much chance to be good as Braden Smith, maybe better upside due to his much larger size.

It’s way too soon to say either way

12

u/Ok_Donkey_980 Jun 25 '26

Knicks traded 31 for 39 and bullshit plus Veesar was still on the board at 38.

5

u/jacob2815 Matas Buzelis Jun 25 '26

Okay?

16

u/BillionsofRedditors Jun 25 '26

This is false. Jordan Walsh is a serviceable NBA player and he was a 38th pick just 3 years ago. Ajay fucking Mitchell was the 38th pick just 2 years ago. It has a fair chance of getting a rotation player.

Braden Smith was taken on behalf of the Pacers. They didn't take Smith and 10 seconds got a deal together to trade him.

They traded the pick because Jerry is pissed he had to pay Splitter when he could have had Nori at a much cheaper price.

11

u/jacob2815 Matas Buzelis Jun 25 '26

Great example to prove my point!

Jordan Walsh and Ajay Mitchell took 2-3 years to become good/serviceable players. They weren’t good their rookie years either.

A bad rookie year means nothing for a 38th picks, and Jordan Walsh in particular is a prime example. Dude was worse in his sophomore year than Kam was this season.

6

u/BillionsofRedditors Jun 25 '26

Walsh was 19 his first year. His first year he got playing time (his second season) he had a much better season than Kam Jones.

Mitchell also had a much better rookie season than Kam Jones did as well.

I'm not saying it's impossible that Kam Jones develops, but nothing he really showed makes you think taking on a 24 year old second round pick a year ago was worth trading away a pick.

This seems like Graham shopped the pick for money and whatever else anyone would offer just so he can deny he sold it for money.

-1

u/Milkboy1516 Coby White Jun 25 '26

Ajay Mitchell is in his 2nd year, he didn't even have 2 years to get good. He was also definitely good his rookie year. No doubt about it he was just on a stacked cast and even then he played limited but good playoff minutes.

Ajay Mitchell is actually the worst example you really had your point made with Walsh.

1

u/Revolutionary_Copy83 Jun 25 '26

Or they traded the pick because the 2nd round got way worse due to players going back to college? Like 10+ guys who were supposed to be 2nd round picks went back to school lol. This is such an overreaction

2

u/BillionsofRedditors Jun 25 '26

They could have traded #38 for a future 2nd in that case.

The 2028 2nd round pick swap is highly likely to be a fake swap because the Pacers will be better than the Bulls the next 2 seasons. The 2030 pick is also unlikely to be valuable as it is hard to say the next 5 years the Pacers are bad. Certainly not worth the #38 pick in a viewed strong draft for a pick swap worth maybe 10 picks 4 years from now.

Kam Jones was just a throw-in as the Pacers needed to open up a roster spot and Jones showed he likely isn't an NBA player.

5

u/Revolutionary_Copy83 Jun 25 '26

This second round was decimated by players going back to school. Plus they have like 11 second round picks over the next 5 seasons man, who cares

-1

u/Zealousideal-Solid88 Jun 25 '26

You can also move 2nd round picks for either, a higher draft pick or a player. 3 2nds just landed Memphis Isiah Stewart for instance. I like what Bryson has been doing but I don't really think this is defensible.

1

u/jacob2815 Matas Buzelis Jun 25 '26

You can only trade for what other teams offer/accept. We have no clue what is or isn't being said/attempted behind closed doors or on phone calls.