Aaron Nesmith could be in line for a major breakout next season, and he could even be the team's leading scorer, at least behind Pascal Siakam.
With Tyrese Haliburton out for all of next season, the rest of the Indiana Pacers will need to step up in a major way. While another deep playoff run will be unlikely, it is fair to assume the Pacers still want to compete next season. In order for them to do so, the entire roster needs to bring their A-game, and that includes Nesmith.
As it stands, it is fair to believe that Pascal Siakam will be the Pacers' leader next season. Additionally, thanks to them now having expanded roles, Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin also have high expectations for next season. However, Nesmith remains a name to keep an eye on.
Recently, Seth Johnson of NUVO spoke about his expectations for the Vanderbilt alum next season, and he said that he believes it is a real possibility that he becomes Indiana's second-leading scorer next season (h/t Seth Johnson on the Setting the Pace podcast).
"He's obviously gonna get more shots, and we've seen over his time as a Pacer that he's very efficient offensively. So, I mean, more shots, you would think would mean he will thrive...I do kind of think he's being overshadowed...Nesmith's been reliable for so long. I do kind of maybe see him being the second-leading scorer this year. We'll find out, I guess," Johnson said.
Like Johnson said, Nesmith has been incredibly efficient during his time in Indiana, and he has only gotten better. Now that he is going to be tasked with the biggest role of his NBA career so far, it is fair to say that he could be in line for a major breakout season.
The Pacers will need Aaron Nesmith to step up
Many are already counting them out, but it seems like the Pacers are not prepared to tank next season. Instead, they will look to continue building on their reputation of being resilient and playing at their best when their backs are up against the wall. It will be incredibly difficult for them to make it back to the NBA Finals next season, but they still have a talented team and should be taken seriously.
If Indiana wants to shock the basketball world again, they need their top guys to perform at a high level, and Nesmith is no exception.
Throughout his career so far, the South Carolina native has grown as a 3-and-D player. Offensively, he has developed into a legitimate sharpshooter. However, he may need to work on creating his own shot next season without Haliburton running the point. Doing so would improve his game drastically, and it would also give Indiana a whole new dynamic on offense.
The Pacers will look completely different next season as they aim to re-establish themselves as legitimate title contenders. However, they still have a bright future ahead of them. Next season may look a bit bleak, but there are still plenty of things to look forward to, and that may include a breakout year from Nesmith.