Pacers officially sign Jalen Smith: 'I chose my future over instant gratification'

INDIANAPOLIS — Jalen Smith had options. The free agent forward, who was traded from the Suns to the Pacers last season, didn't have to remain in Indiana. He had suitors that could've offered a bigger contract, but it wasn't about the money for Smith.

The Pacers were the team that took a chance on him before he found his footing and began showing why he was a lottery pick. And for that reason, Smith is staying put, officially signing with Indiana during a press conference at their practice facility Wednesday.

"At the end of the day, I chose my future over instant gratification," said Smith, who coach Rick Carlisle anointed the team's starting power forward. "I feel as though that was the biggest part. You don't want to take on such a big task so early on in your life rather than trying to work towards it and miss out on it in the future, and that was pretty much the main thing that was going through my head the whole entire time.

"'What do I want to do? Do I want to feed that hunger for the future or do I want to not settle but just take that easy route?' And I felt as though Indiana was gonna help me build to the future that I wanted."

The earliest free agent deals could become official is Wednesday, and although the terms of Smith's deal were not disclosed, HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported Thursday that Smith signed a three-year, $15.1-million contract with a player option for the 2024-25 season and a bonus worth 10% of his remaining salary if he's traded.

Retaining the 6-10 forward at that price once seemed nearly impossible, especially given the limitations the Pacers had.

After being drafted 10th overall by the Suns in 2020, Smith's third-year rookie option was declined — only the sixth time that's occurred for a first-round pick in league history — and he was was traded from Phoenix to Indiana.

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Since the Pacers acquired Smith, they still had to abide by the rules of his rookie contract and could offer him a maximum of $10.6 million over the next two seasons. That amount seemed well below market value after Smith shined in Indiana.

"We were gonna be up against some limitations to re-sign him because of some wacky rules. But in the end, he really felt at home here," Carlisle said. "I had a chance after the season to go to the Baltimore area and sit and have dinner with him, his mom, Lisa, his dad, Charles, and his sister, Kiara, along with (his agent Mike Kneisley). One thing that Lisa and Charles both said about Jalen's experience with Indiana is that, 'It was great to see him smile again.'

"Indiana became a very warm place for him and his family, and he's signed on here to be our starting power forward."

Smith averaged 13.4 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 53.1% overall and 37.3% on 3s in 22 games for the Pacers. He notched six double-doubles, including 15 points and 15 rebounds off the bench in a win at Orlando on March 3.

The 22-year-old thanked Carlisle for giving him a shot despite being unproven. Prior to Indiana, Smith averaged 4.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in 56 games for the Suns. He averaged 9.6 minutes per game compared to 24.7 minutes with the Pacers.

"You never know what's gonna happen. I could've got traded and put to the back of the bench like I was in Phoenix, but coach Carlisle gave me that opportunity to just go on the court and play my game. I feel as though that was a deal breaker for me when I wanted to make my decision," Smith said. "He could've put me to the end of the bench but instead he chose to give me that opportunity, and I ran with it.

"That was one of the main reasons why I decided to come back."

Smith will join budding star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who Carlisle credited for helping Smith excel with the Pacers, this year's No. 6 pick Bennedict Mathurin and second-year players and 2021 first-round picks Chris Duarte and Isaiah Jackson. Carlisle likened the acquisition of Smith to adding another lottery pick to their young core, and Pacers team president Kevin Pritchard feels the same way.

Pritchard called Smith "priority (No.) 1" on the team's free agency to-do list and that was evident Wednesday. Smith signed his contract in front of dozens of Pacers Sports & Entertainment employees as he sat next to Pritchard and Carlisle on a stage that was temporarily built on the same court he'll continue practicing on.

Smith said he didn't speak to any of his teammates during the free agency process because he didn't want them to influence his decision. Fortunately for them, his 22-game stint earlier this year was pretty convincing.

"They kind of already figured I was coming back," said Smith, who trained with Haliburton and others this summer at the Pacers' practice facility. "Not many people come back to an optional workout as a free agent. They kind of figured it out before I even knew, but they were all excited once they heard the news, and I'm just happy to be back."

Follow IndyStar Pacers beat writer James Boyd on Twitter: @RomeovilleKid. Reach him via email: jboyd1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers sign Jalen Smith, anoint him starting power forward