Indiana Pacers rookie Braden Smith recently signed his two-way contract after a month-long waiting period due to the team’s financial maneuvering. The 38th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and Purdue product agreed to the deal earlier this August, finally solidifying his place with the Pacers. His contract allows him to split time between Indiana and their G League affiliate, the Noblesville Boom, which is notable for being close to his hometown in Westfield, Indiana.

Smith’s journey to the NBA involved the Pacers trading picks and a young guard to secure his draft position. Multiple teams, including the Lakers and Bucks, showed interest but lacked the draft leverage to claim him without a trade. Now part of the Pacers organization, Smith expressed enthusiasm about representing his home state team and growing his professional career on familiar turf.

Summer league play exposed areas for growth in Smith’s game. His shooting accuracy was below 27%, and though his passing was strong—averaging seven assists per game—he struggled defensively and physically on the court. Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan highlighted the difficulty of the point guard position, especially for smaller players like Smith, citing comparisons to guards such as T.J. McConnell and Jose Alvarado, who had similar early challenges.

Despite the initial struggles, Smith showed promising progress within games, improving his play quarter by quarter. Teammates and coaches praised his work ethic and ability to adjust mid-game. The Pacers drafted him believing in his potential to translate that growth into consistent performance. Now equipped with a two-way contract, Smith will have ample opportunity to develop both in Indiana and the G League throughout his rookie season.