The Indiana Pacers had interest in Aaron Nesmith heading into the 2020 NBA Draft (despite not having a first-round pick) and seemingly may have interviewed him beforehand. A couple of years later, Indiana traded for him in the Malcolm Brogdon deal after two subpar seasons with the Boston Celtics. Having the intel already helped Indy find a key piece of their roster, and the trade continues to pay dividends (h/t Sam Vecenie of the Game Theory Podcast).
"They targeted Aaron Nesmith to go get him from the Boston Celtics. They knew he was a good bet for them and for what they wanted to do, which is huge. They don't make the Finals without that deal," Vecenie said.
Indiana acquired Nesmith from the Celtics in a package for Brogdon back in 2022. At the time, Nesmith was considered a throw-in after not breaking out in Boston. However, it seems clear that the Pacers had genuine interest in him the entire time as they knew they could develop him into a key contributor.
After three seasons with the Pacers, the Vanderbilt alum has turned into one of the best 3-and-D players in the league, and he played a big role in the team's last two playoff runs.
It did not take too long for the move to age well for Indiana, but even three years later, it continues to look even better for the team.
Aaron Nesmith will be a long-term contributor for the Pacers
Nesmith has gradually improved during each of his seasons with the Pacers, and he is still just 25 years old. He will never be the best or most important player on the team, but there is a fair argument to be had they he is close. This was especially evident during last season's playoff run.
The South Carolina native turned it up to another level last postseason, with his peak being Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks. In the shocking victory, Nesmith recorded 30 points on 9-for-13 shooting, including 8-for-9 from beyond the arc. Furthermore, 20 of those points came in less than nine minutes in the fourth quarter alone.
Nesmith provides a lot of value in different aspects of the game. He has turned into a legitimate sharpshooter and is also an excellent defender. Additionally, he still has the opportunity to develop. As the Pacers aim to remain in title contention, Nesmith will continue to be a valuable asset.
As it stands, Nesmith has two years remaining on his three-year, $33 million deal. He is currently on an extremely team-friendly deal, and it is safe to assume his next contract will look entirely different. Even so, no matter what, the Pacers must ensure that Nesmith sticks around for the long haul. Trading for him was a genius move, and it has only gotten better with time.