7:33pm: The trade is official, according to an announcement from the Suns.
3:57pm: The Pacers will receive the Suns’ 2022 second-round pick in the deal, according to Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files (Twitter link).
1:03pm: The Pacers will send Torrey Craig to the Suns in exchange for Jalen Smith, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Indiana will also receive a future second-round pick in the deal.
Craig, 31, was part of the Phoenix team that reached the NBA Finals last season. He only got into 32 games with the Suns and left in free agency to find a team that would give him a larger role. He signed a two-year, $10MM deal with the Pacers and averaged 6.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in 51 games.
There has been speculation that Smith, a 21-year-old big man, would be moved ever since the Suns decided not to pick up his third-year option. The 10th pick in the 2020 draft, Smith got into 29 games this season, averaging 6.0 points and 4.8 rebounds in 13.2 minutes per night. He may get a larger opportunity on an Indiana team that traded away Domantas Sabonis this week.
Because Smith’s option for next season has already been declined, the Pacers can’t offer him a new contract starting at more than $4,670,160, which was the amount of the option.
Wow. Lots of upside for Indiana. Not a bad way to rebuild.
My trade grade
Pacers B+
Suns B+
Good trade
OH MY GOD! THE LAKERS ARE TRADING LEBRON!
Definitely worth a shot and long look.
Suns also get depth and a vet for playoff run.
Great value for a top 10 pick…lol
As a Suns fan I’m super mad about this. Love Torrey and what he being to the table, and he helps the championship aspirations this year for sure…
But, I really was loving the way Jalen has been developing this year. I think he’s got a ton of potential. Overpaid for Torrey.
Jalen is a good player with big upside and Suns gave him away for a journeymen they had on their roster last year!?!
Jalen was gone this offseason because the Suns were capped on what they could offer him by declining his option. Now the Pacers will have the same issue…
Thanks for pointing this out, averagejoe
That’s surprising. Jalen Smith looked pretty good
Suns obviously feel they’re in title contention. They wouldn’t be wrong but it’s definitely a short-sighted move.
It was shortsighted when they declined his option making it highly unlikely they could retain him with their max possible offer of $4M and change. Getting anything for him if he’s not in the playoff rotation is a plus. Now the Pacers are stuck only being able to offer that $4M and change.
Clever way for Phoenix to offer Smith more this off-season, after getting him more playing time on a bad team. (Not that they will—if they were going to fit him into their tightening cap, they missed their chance.)
Indiana doing good things for the future. I actually like what the Kings have done as well.
Not sure I am ok with this but the GM has done so much good it is hard to doubt him.
Smith got off to a super-slow start but his stats shot way up this year in 13mpg. Telling the tale: per 36′, 13 rebounds and 0.6 assists. Shooting %s are okay, but blocks & fouls are not. Smith can be unaware, so I am sure that is why GM Jones cut him loose. I liked his baseline 3s in college, and he’s good at the 1pt line, so I still think he will come through as a high pick.
Good adds with Haliburton & Hield… Pacers will be back. Hield and the Pacer version of Lance Stephenson are similar. Hali similar to Reggie Miller? Smith a Davis brother with a deep shot? Too far without luck…