If the Indiana Pacers want to succeed next year and for the foreseeable future, they need to see if Aaron Nesmith is capable of playing more positions. More specifically, they need to experiment with him playing some small-ball four.
The Pacers are going to look incredibly different next year without Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner. Because of this, many are not expecting them to remain competitive even though they were just one win away from an NBA Championship back in June. Regardless, Indiana has given no indication that they are going to tank. If the team wants to make an impact next season, they need to experiment with some things.
As it stands, the Pacers are already making some big changes. Andrew Nembhard is going to slide over to the point, and Bennedict Mathurin (and maybe Isaiah Jackson at center) will be inserted into the starting lineup. Furthermore, the team is expected to rely much more heavily on some of their younger players to see who can step up.
Amid their experimentation, Nesmith is an important player to keep an eye on. If he can showcase some more versatility, that can pay dividends for his and Indiana's short and long-term success.
Aaron Nesmith should get some minutes at power forward
In a recent episode of the Locked On Pacers podcast, Tony East questioned whether the team would be able to rely on Nesmith playing multiple positions next season, including small-ball four.
"Can Aaron Nesmith play some other positions? Is this a real thing the Pacers can rely on?... In the NBA now, small-ball fours exist, right? They are a reasonable thing. He's probably a little smaller than most guys who routinely get that task, but it's a thing. If you can get away with a guy who's small at the four but is skilled enough to play, that's fine...Can he play some four? Does it make sense for him to play some four?" East said
It's a bit unusual, but this would be an exciting change for Indiana to make, and it's worth giving a chance next season.
Small-ball lineups have their place in the NBA, and the Pacers occasionally will run such a lineup, usually by having someone like Obi Toppin, who is traditionally a forward, play center. These types of lineups are typically used if a team wants to have a speed advantage or better spacing. Both of these are crucial to Indiana's success on offense, and it would be a smart move for them to roll out more small-ball lineups next season given their roster situation.
As it stands, it is fair to assume that Toppin (and potentially Jarace Walker) will get more opportunities as a small-ball center, but it shouldn't stop there. The Pacers should also put some more thought into utilizing a small-ball power forward a bit more, and Nesmith is the perfect option for that.
The Vanderbilt alum can work in this type of role because of his defensive strengths and athleticism. Additionally, he is also a knock-down shooter, and, in theory, the Pacers would be at a major offensive advantage with him playing the small-ball four. Doing this would also make the Pacers even more versatile, and it would add another tool to their toolbox.
Nesmith is already a good player for the Pacers, but in order for the team to succeed next year, they need him to take another step, and giving him small-ball four opportunities may be the best way for him to do that.
There is a chance for this to backfire because, like East mentions, Nesmith may be a bit too small for this to work constantly. Even so, given that next season will be all about experimentation for Indiana anyway, this is a risk they should take without a second thought.