Braden Smith’s path to the Indiana Pacers suddenly looks a lot less certain.
What was supposed to be the cleanest kind of homecoming - the Pacers landing Purdue star and Indiana native Braden Smith with the 38th pick in this year’s NBA Draft - has turned into a waiting game. Indiana has Smith’s draft rights, but he still has not signed a contract, and the league’s official transaction tracker shows every other summer move the Pacers have made: new deals for Kelly Oubre, Larry Nance, Kobe Brown and Jalen Slawson. Smith is nowhere on it.
That gap mattered less a few days ago. Now it matters a lot.
On Friday, Colorado judge Charlotte N. Sweeney granted a preliminary injunction to college players from “the class of 2022,” opening the door for them to be eligible to play college sports this year. That group includes Smith, who already completed his fourth and final season of college basketball last season before moving on toward the pro game.
The NCAA had recently tried to draw a firmer line with its new “5 x 5” rule, which limits college athletes to five years after they finish high school or turn 19, whichever comes first. The idea was to cut down on the endless court fights over eligibility. No extended detours, no late-career return trips, no six- or seven-year college runs.
But the ruling changed the picture fast. The NCAA plans to appeal, though its recent track record in court has not been strong, and suddenly a large group of players is eligible to go back to college. For many of them, the choice is straightforward: leave the G League or overseas behind and head back into the transfer portal in search of NIL money.
Smith’s case is different.
He has a choice that would have sounded impossible before Friday: he could go back to college instead of starting his NBA career. That option is especially striking because he was already drafted by the Pacers, and players in that situation have already shown the NCAA can’t really stop them if they were swept into the draft after their eligibility ran out.
Would Smith actually do it? Purdue would almost certainly be the only place that makes sense if he returns. And if the Boilermakers wanted him back, there would likely be money available - possibly two or three times what he could make by starting out with Indiana.
For the Pacers, that creates a strange kind of flexibility. They would still control his rights, which means they could revisit the situation in a year. Smith would be older and maybe even better in some areas, and Indiana would not have to use a roster spot on a rookie second-round pick right away.
For now, though, the decision is Smith’s, and nobody has reported what he plans to do. What once looked like a straightforward NBA arrival has turned into something far messier. As of Friday, the idea of Braden Smith back at Purdue is no longer fantasy - it’s on the table.
In Other News...
Tom Izzo Addressed One Last Michigan State Roster Question
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The timing matters because it closes the book on any late speculation around former Spartans Jaxon Kohler and Tre Holloman. Both had been part of the conversation after the eligibility ruling, but Izzos stance leaves Michigan State set with what it has now, and with no room for another surprise addition before the season gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State And Michigan Are Battling For An Izzo Type Big
Michigan States 2027 recruiting board has a familiar Izzo feel to it, and one of the more important names on it is Kamsi Awaka. The four-star center from New Jersey has the size and style that tend to translate well in East Lansing, with a 6-foot-10 frame, 250-pound build and a reputation for physical play and rim protection that fits the kind of frontcourt anchor Tom Izzo has long valued.
The race for Awaka is not a simple one, though, because Michigan is in the mix too, along with other programs, and the competition is already tight enough to make every visit and every conversation matter. What remains unclear is when he will make his decision, or whether Michigan State still considers him the top interior target in that class as the recruiting picture continues to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Players Are Already Feeling Pat Fitzgeralds Culture Shift
Pat Fitzgeralds first offseason in East Lansing is already bringing back a few old-school touches that are hard to miss inside the program. One of the biggest changes has been the return of players living in dorms during fall camp, a setup that fits Fitzgeralds emphasis on team-building and a tighter day-to-day environment. Alongside that, he has introduced a new layer of player involvement around one of the most recognizable numbers in the Michigan State program.
The No. 1 jersey carries real history at Michigan State, and Fitzgerald has made its next wearer something the team helps decide rather than a call handed down from the staff. It is a small detail on paper, but it signals a different tone from the previous era, one that gives players a louder voice while reinforcing the idea that the jersey means something bigger than any one season. Early signs around the program suggest the approach has been well received. [Read more 🡒]