Pacers GM's Message to Braden Smith After Summer League

In terms of what Buchanan would like to see Smith improve upon, the Pacers GM said, "I would like to see him develop a little more physicality. I think that will be a focus for him moving forward with his development, and a little more confidence, [specifically] looking to score the ball more."

But at the end of the day, the Pacers GM didn't walk away discouraged by his point guard's play. In fact, he stated just how difficult it is to learn the point guard spot as a rookie, "They're playing with new players, they're playing in a new system, [for] a new coach, so there's always going to be an adjustment.

Buchanan added that "the point guard position, specifically, is the hardest to position to learn in the NBA." Which highlights just what challenges Smith faced, and that doesn't factor in how wonky the build of the Pacers Summer League roster was.

That being said, after spending a week as the team's primary ball handler, the 5-foot-11 Smith averaged a lowly 6.8 points, a solid 7.0 assists, and mediocre 2.8 turnovers per game. He did all of this while shooting a horrific 26.4% from the field and poor 29.4% from three.

Outside of one strong showing in the fourth quarter against the 76ers Summer League team, most of Smith's play left a lot to be desired. Nonetheless, it is irrational to base your entire judgment of how Smith will project as a pro off of a one-week sample size.

We will have a better pulse for who Smith can be in the NBA after a year of development with the Pacers' G League team, the Noblesville Boom. As he gets acclimated to playing within the Pacers and Boom's system, and adjusts to the pace and speed of the NBA.

At the end of the conversation regarding Braden Smith on Setting the Pace, Buchanan share that he should have optimism for how he played in those five games.

"Overall, I thought Braden should feel relatively pleased of how things went for his first jump into the water, into the deep end.”

Hopefully Smith can use his experience in the Summer League as motivation to push him to be a much better player and a part of this franchise for the long haul.