Pacers Lost a Lottery Pick But Found a Perfect Fit at No. 38

The Indiana Pacers walked into the 2026 NBA Draft with just about the worst possible scenario playing out. A year after playing for a title, they were coming off a 19-63 season. They didn’t even have a first-round pick. The lottery fell to No. 5, and because of the Ivica Zubac trade, that pick went straight to the Clippers. In a loaded draft class, losing a top-five selection felt like a sick joke.

But instead of sulking, the front office got to work. They traded into the second round and grabbed the No. 38 pick. And with it, they took Purdue’s Braden Smith, a guy who might be the most perfect fit for this franchise that you could imagine.

The fall was brutal

Let’s be clear about how bad this season was. Tyrese Haliburton missed extended time, and without him, Rick Carlisle’s system completely fell apart. The beautiful offense. The relentless pace. Gone. And because Indiana finished with the second-worst record but got bumped to No. 5 in the lottery, they got nothing for it. No shiny rookie. No draft-night hope. Just a reminder that sometimes the basketball gods are cruel.

But the Pacers have built their identity on finding value where others don’t look. They’ve done it before with guys like Aaron Nesmith and 安德鲁 Nembhard (wait, that’s the wrong sport). The point is, they trust their player development pipeline. So they went hunting for a way back into the draft.

They found it at No. 38.

Braden Smith is the real deal

Smith leaves Purdue as the NCAA’s all-time assists leader. That’s 1,103 dimes. The kid sees the floor like he’s playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers. He changes pace. He manipulates pick-and-roll coverage. He makes his teammates better just by being on the court.

But he’s also 6-foot and maybe 170 pounds. There’s a reason he fell to the second round. Bigger guards are going to attack him on defense. He doesn’t have the explosive athleticism that lets undersized guys create separation in the NBA.

Here’s the thing though. The Pacers aren’t asking him to be a star. They need a backup point guard who can run the offense when Haliburton sits. They need someone who understands pace and space and making the right read. That’s Smith’s entire game.

Perfect landing spot

If there’s one franchise built for Braden Smith, it’s Indiana. Carlisle’s offense demands high-IQ guards who process quickly and make unselfish plays. That’s literally Smith’s skill set. And sitting behind Haliburton and TJ McConnell? That’s like a crash course in how to survive in the NBA without being a physical freak. Both of those guys play on feel and brains. They’re the perfect mentors.

Smith is tough. He’s cerebral. He does the little things. He’s a classic Pacers pick in the best way.

Was this a franchise-altering draft?

No. Of course not. Losing a top-five pick in a loaded class makes that impossible. But considering the circumstances, Indiana did about as well as it could. They refused to let one brutal season derail the long-term plan. They found a path back into the draft. And they picked a player who fits their identity like a glove.

Braden Smith might never be an All-Star. But high-level backup point guards have long careers. And his basketball IQ gives him a real chance to carve out that role. Sometimes draft-night wins aren’t about finding superstars. Sometimes they’re about finding a guy who reminds everyone why they love the game.