Examining if former Celtics 1st-round pick could have worked in Boston
Aaron Nesmith mostly watched from the Celtics bench back in the 2022 NBA Finals run. The C's took the next step toward competitiveness, but since the wing depth was so deep, Nesmith couldn't consistently crack the rotation.
But as Nesmith stars for the Pacers during their 2025 playoffs, there's no denying the forward's impact on the game. Nesmith has developed into a legit rotation player for a Pacers team that's one win away from the NBA Finals.
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He was crucial in their Game 1 win over the Knicks as he caught fire from deep. While Nesmith battled an ankle injury, he's played through it so far. Now, the Pacers are looking to close out the East Finals against the Knicks. Indiana holds a 3-1 series lead with Game 5 set for 8 p.m. Thursday in New York.
Now, there are likely Celtics fans wondering if the team could have kept Nesmith considering what he's turned into for the Pacers. But there are a lot of moving parts, so probably not. Plus, in this current timeline, it ended with the Celtics winning the 2024 title so it all worked out for the front office.
Nesmith was included in the Malcolm Brogdon deal with the Pacers back in the 2022 offseason. Brogdon ended up just being a one-year piece, though he did win Sixth Man of the Year in the 2022-23 season. More importantly, Brogdon was included in the Jrue Holiday deal with the Trail Blazers. Holiday is in trade rumors now, but there's no denying the guard was a big part of the 2024 title run that ended in a ring.
Also, Nesmith was allowed to grow into his own when he got to Indiana. The Pacers went 35-47 in 2022-23. Nesmith played 73 games (60 starts) that year, getting consistent playing time for the first time in his career. The Celtics, on the flip side, didn't have minutes like that available fresh off the NBA Finals appearance as they had their eyes on Banner No. 18 at the time. The C's took Nesmith at 14th overall in the 2020 draft as he played his first two seasons in Boston.
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So, it all worked out for both sides. The Pacers got Nesmith in the Brogdon deal while the Celtics eventually got the title (including beating Indiana in the 2024 East Finals). Nesmith, especially, proved that he's a bonafide NBA player as he's enjoyed a stellar playoff run. He's averaging 15.1 points and 6.0 rebounds in 14 playoff games, shooting an eye-popping 51.9% on his 3-pointers.
The Pacers look like a team that will continue to be a problem in the East, though, with star guard Tyrese Haliburton leading the way. They've made the East Finals the past two years, plus they're on the edge of making their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000 and just their second-time ever. Nesmith figures to be part of the future in Indiana as he's signed through the 2026-27 season on an affordable $11 million salary.
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