Roughly three years ago, the Indiana Pacers acquired Aaron Nesmith from the Boston Celtics as part of the Malcolm Brogdon trade. At the time, Nesmith had a minor role in two seasons in Boston and was mostly considered a throw-in to the trade. However, now in his third season with the Pacers, Nesmith has developed into a key player for the team.
In three seasons with the Pacers, the Vanderbilt alum has appeared in 188 games and started 142 of them. Across that span, he is averaging 11.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 40.1% from beyond the arc and playing fantastic defense. As the Pacers prepare for what they hope is a second straight deep playoff run, they will rely on Nesmith to provide value on both sides of the ball.
Nearly two years ago, the Pacers made a major decision regarding Nesmith, and it is continuing to pay dividends now.
The Pacers are still reaping the benefits of this Aaron Nesmith decision
Just before the start of he 2023-24 NBA season, the Pacers signed Nesmith to a three-year, $33 million contract extension. Even though he only had one season in Indiana under his belt, many saw the vision and thought this was a steal for Indiana. Fast forward to the present day, and this notion has only been confirmed.
For the 2025-26 season, Nesmith's $11 million salary is just the fifth-highest on the team's payroll, and this does not include potential new contracts for Myles Turner (unrestricted free agent) or Bennedict Mathurin (eligible for a rookie-scale contract extension). Given his role on the team, Nesmith's contract is not only arguably the best on the roster, but it is one of the best in the entire league.
Another notable aspect of Nesmith's contract is that it gives the Pacers some much-needed financial flexibility. For two decades, the Pacers have avoided paying the luxury tax. While they will look to do the same this upcoming season, it will be difficult given their expected payroll. However, having Nesmith on the contract he is on will make things just a bit easier for the front office.
After this season, Nesmith has two full years left on his contract. At just 25 years old, he still has some time to grow and develop as a player. Regardless, he has already established himself as a key part of the Pacers' success. Hopefully for the team, Nesmith will stick around for the long run even after his current contract is up.