Aaron Nesmith is the Indiana Pacers' biggest returning piece outside of Tyrese Haliburton. While so much focus was put on the latter and his recovery from an Achilles tear, it remains true that Nesmith played under 50 games for a team that won only 19 all season.
Bringing the three-and-D wing back into the fold will be valuable just by nature of how good Nesmith is at fitting into this Pacers system, and how much shooting and defense he adds, but he may also be the key to matching up with the newly assembled rivals in Cleveland.
The Peyton Watson trade brought the Cavaliers into a new era for their team's identity. So much of this Cavs team has been prototypically built around a point guard who passes, a shooting guard who shoots, and wings and bigs who do wing and big things. Trading for Watson changes that, and their aggression will either set them up for failure or differentiate them from the rest of the league.
Going to a supersized lineup could help Cleveland overpower their competition, while the trio of Watson, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen locks down the paint. If this is their solution to beating the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks of the world, what should that mean for Indiana, the most formulaic good team in basketball?
Solving the small (big) problem
Well, the Pacers do not have the talent to bring on another big or power forward option. They simply do not. If Jarace Walker breaks out, there is hope, but as it stands, he is viewed by the analytics as one of the worst players in basketball.
No, the answer would have to come along the wings, adding size through replacing Andrew Nembhard's 6'4, relatively slender frame. If that's the case, then the move to precipitate that embiggening is moving Aaron Nesmith up a spot to shooting guard.
This would not be an unprecedented move, as the Vanderbilt product played in that spot during his time in college.
Nesmith has put on muscle to play the three, but he is still quick and mobile enough to survive in a more active role. Truthfully, considering he has already been miscast as a lockdown defender, making him a more focal offensive player could be an absolute godsend.
That spot at the small forward position would immediately become a huge swing factor. Options would be numerous but deeply, deeply confusing.
Would Ben Sheppard make sense as a more defensive-minded forward with a little more girth than Nesmith? Could Kelly Oubre Jr. go directly from free agent acquisition to vital starter? Can Max Christie be brought in for a deal that doesn't deplete Indiana's asset trove?
The answer is likely that the Pacers do not care to try this. Their current roster enables going small with Pascal Siakam at center far more than it does going big. Additionally, why would Indiana practice playing into an opponent's strength instead of their own?
However, having options is always important in the playoffs, as is having an identity. The Cavs have that now. The Pacers' identity is still in the fundamentals of basketball. They are the most regular team around, not in their lack of talent but in their lack of imagination in putting it together.
You need to be able to deal with your opponents' best options. Big ball is rampant in the East. If Indiana doesn't plan, their season will end in shambles.
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