Aaron Nesmith Provides Pacers Plenty Punches

Although the Indiana Pacers traded three first-round picks for Pascal Siakam and are cap-committed to their core, the small-market franchise's front office has more team-building options. Aaron Nesmith's contract allows Indiana to move in multiple ways regarding trade options.

Nesmith once played with the Pacers rival the Boston Celtics. However, following the Celtics' NBA Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors, Boston's front office traded the young guard to the Pacers alongside Daniel Theis, Malik Fitts, Juwan Morgan, Nik Stauskas, and a 2023 first-round pick for the services of Malcolm Brogdon.

Indiana considered any production from Nesmith as a bonus, with the first-round pick the prize of the trade.

However, since arriving in Indiana, Nesmith has proven himself worthy of Rick Carlisle's rotation due to his averages of 11 points and 39 percent from 3-point land for the past two seasons. Regular season aside, Nesmith had more production in the tank during the 2024 playoffs.

Although the young forward's accuracy from distanced wavered amid Indiana's Eastern Conference Finals run, he maintained an average of 10.5 points along with a stellar 91.9 free-throw shooting percentage. Nesmith's value as a second-unit player is one thing, but considering his contract opens up the possibilities for the Pacers, depending on the scenario.

Nesmith is entering the first year of his three-year, $33 million contract extension he signed before the 2023-24 season started.

The Pacers could use his contract to help absorb another player in case the front office seeks the services of another star player. Furthermore, if the Pacers want to cut costs by just enough, they could trade his deal for a lower first-round pick.

Related: Pacers Pay Tribute to 'Dunkin Dutchman'

However, despite such a trade option, perhaps Indiana keeps the young guard in case they trade Andrew Nemnhard down the line, as he signed a more "costly" extension this past summer. Whether the Pacers decide to position Nesmith in trade talks, they have multiple options to put them in an advantageous position.

The Pacers are coming off a season in which they reached the Eastern Conference Finals with the second-best offensive rating in the NBA. Fortunately for the Pacers, the dread of most small market teams, the luxury tax, isn't in danger of breaking up their core yet.

If/when that happens, Indiana's front office might need to revisit Nesmith's value in the trade market.