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Bulls Acquire Guard Kam Jones, Future Pick in Trade

6/25/2026

30 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Bulls Trade Picks

Bulls traded the No. 38 second-round pick to the Pacers for guard Kam Jones and the No. 38 2025 pick.
Chicago also sent the No. 56 pick to the Lakers for cash and received two second-round swaps from Indiana.
Indiana got the rights to Purdue guard Braden Smith as part of the deal.
The Bulls’ leadership includes Bryson Graham and head coach Tiago Splitter, with first-round picks Caleb Wilson (No. 4) and Dailyn Swain (No. 15).

Summary

Smith Traded

Smith entered the NBA as NCAA’s all-time assists leader, became first sub-6-foot point guard drafted since 2013, and won 2025-26 Big Ten Tournament MVP and 2024-25 Big Ten Player of the Year awards.
Pacers GM Chad Buchanan said the team needed point-guard depth, prompting the Smith trade.
Kam Jones missed camp with a back injury, was arrested for speeding, and his contract became guaranteed after playing under 50 games.

History

Historical Context

During the 1996 NBA draft—the league’s 50th and a deep class—Toronto chose Marcus Camby second overall and traded his rights to the New York Knicks in 1998 for veteran Charles Oakley. That early use of draft capital to add immediate talent mirrors the Chicago Bulls’ 2025 swap of a second-round pick for guard Kam Jones, showing a lasting preference for roster depth over future picks.

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Bulls Trade Picks

Bulls traded the No. 38 second-round pick to the Pacers for guard Kam Jones and the No. 38 2025 pick.
Chicago also sent the No. 56 pick to the Lakers for cash and received two second-round swaps from Indiana.
Indiana got the rights to Purdue guard Braden Smith as part of the deal.
The Bulls’ leadership includes Bryson Graham and head coach Tiago Splitter, with first-round picks Caleb Wilson (No. 4) and Dailyn Swain (No. 15).

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