Pacers, Nesmith Finalize Two-Year, $40.4 Million Extension
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INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers and starting small forward Aaron Nesmith have agreed on a two-year extension worth $40.4 million, agent Mike Lindeman told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Monday night.
The contract, which includes a trade kicker, is scheduled to begin in the 2027-28 season. Nesmith is set to earn $19.4 million in the first year of the extension and $21 million in 2028-29. He will make $11 million in each of the next two seasons under his current deal.
Nesmith, 26, has emerged as a reliable 3-and-D option since arriving in Indiana via trade from Boston in the 2022 offseason. Selected 14th overall in the 2020 draft, the 6-5 wing has averaged 12.1 points and 3.9 rebounds over the past two regular seasons while shooting 50.0% from the field, 42.3% from three-point range and 82.9% at the free-throw line.
He played a key role in Indiana’s run to the NBA Finals earlier this year, appearing in all 23 postseason games and averaging 12.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks in 28.3 minutes. His 49.2% three-point accuracy was the highest among players who attempted at least 100 threes in the playoffs, according to ESPN research cited by Charania.
The Pacers could have offered a maximum three-year package worth $62.9 million, but the two-year term Nesmith accepted represents the largest possible value for that length. The NBA’s deadline for veteran extensions on non-expiring contracts is 10:59 p.m. CT tonight.
Nesmith was one of several under-the-radar extension candidates highlighted in a recent column by Luke Adams; Toumani Camara and A.J. Green have since reached new agreements as well.
Source: Hoops Rumors
