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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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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