Free Agent Center Jalen Smith has agreed to a two-year, 6 9.6 million deal to return to the Indiana Pacers, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wozniacki on Friday.
A former top 10 pick in the Sons ’2020 NBA Draft, Smith’s career in Phoenix ended just one full season when he was sold to the Pacers in a trade deadline deal with Torrey Craig.
After the young forward’s rookie season, Smith’s team decided not to take the 4.7 million option for 2022-23, making him a free agent this summer. It was a shocking move; Rarely has a team lost control of the top pick early in their careers.
Smith, 22, averaged 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 53% from 1 block field and 37.3% from 3 out of 22 games, with more playing time in Indiana.
The fast bowler, who agreed to trade guard Malcolm Brogden at the Boston Celtics on Friday morning, has rebuilt his roster over the past several months around a young choir consisting of Smith, Tires Halliburton and 2022 first-rounder Benedict Mathurin.