Full Breakdown
Chicago Bulls Trade No. 38 Pick for Guard Kam Jones in 2026 Draft Night Deal
6/25/2026, 1:34:32 PM
Bulls Acquire Kam Jones in Draft Night Trade
On the second night of the 2026 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls sent the rights to point guard Braden Smith (No. 38 overall) to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for guard Kam Jones, the 2025 No. 38 pick, plus future second-round pick swaps and cash considerations. The Bulls also moved their No. 56 pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for cash.
Background: Rebuilding After a Fourth Straight Missed Playoff
Chicago entered the draft after a 31-51 season, missing the postseason for the fourth year. The front office was overhauled with Bryson Graham promoted to executive vice president of basketball operations and Tiago Splitter hired as head coach. The Bulls used their first-round selections on forward Caleb Wilson (No. 4) and wing Dailyn Swain (No. 15), signaling a shift toward athletic, transition-oriented players.
Key Figures & Groups
- Bryson Graham – Executive VP, Bulls
- Tiago Splitter – Head coach, Bulls
- Stephen Mervis – Bulls general manager
- Chad Buchanan – Pacers general manager
- Braden Smith – Purdue point guard, 2026 No. 38 pick
- Kam Jones – Marquette alumnus, 2025 No. 38 pick, entering second year of a four-year rookie contract
Trade Details and Statistics
The Bulls received Jones, who averaged 4.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 16.6 minutes per game for Indiana, shooting 29.3 % from three-point range. The Pacers acquired Smith, a 5-foot-11 guard who posted 14.3 points, 8.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds in his senior year at Purdue, with a 38.5 % three-point rate and Big Ten Tournament MVP honors. Future assets include second-round pick swaps slated for 2028 and 2030 (per Tony East) and undisclosed cash from both teams.
Official Statements & Responses
Graham described the Bulls as “at the ground floor,” emphasizing that the development of Wilson, Swain and now Jones will shape the franchise’s timeline. Buchanan noted that “you can never have enough point guard depth,” framing the acquisition of Jones as a strategic depth move for Indiana. Mervis and Splitter have not issued public comments beyond the trade announcement.
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts questioned the decision to relinquish both second-round picks, arguing that the Bulls are “treating second-round picks as an afterthought” and not leveraging Graham’s talent-evaluation reputation. Some observers view the cash-only return for the No. 56 pick as insufficient value, especially given the team’s need for young playmakers.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact composition of future assets: some specify swaps in 2028 and 2030, while others merely reference “future second-round swaps.” The cash component is described as coming from the Lakers for the No. 56 pick in some reports, yet other accounts suggest additional cash from the Pacers. Jones’s contract status is also inconsistent; one source says the deal leaves his contract partially guaranteed, another mentions a team option through the 2028-29 season.
Verbatim Quotes
- “With a 31-51 record last season and missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year, Graham has described the Bulls as being "at the ground floor.” — Bryson Graham, Executive Vice President, Chicago Bulls
- “The Bulls moving out of BOTH their second-round picks feels like the same old, same old.” — Elias Schuster, Sports Journalist
- “Kam Jones is coming back to the team and actually happened to be one of my favorite second-round names in 2025.” — Anonymous Analyst, NBA Commentary
- “Smith is just 6-feet tall, and he's not regarded as a supreme athlete.” — Anonymous Analyst, Sporting News
What’s Next
Chicago will integrate Jones into its rotation during the Summer League and evaluate his fit alongside Wilson and Swain. Indiana expects Smith to compete for a backup point-guard role behind Tyrese Haliburton and T.J. McConnell. Both franchises will gauge the long-term impact of the trade as the new league-wide lottery format reshapes draft positioning.
