The Indiana Pacers renew a key player from the 2025 finalist team

The Indiana Pacers have reached an agreement with their starting small forward Aaron Nesmith for a contract extension of two years and $40.4 million, as reported by his agent, Mike Lindeman, to Shams Charania of The Athletic. The new deal also includes a partial veto clause in case of a trade, reflecting the mutual commitment between player and franchise. According to Bobby Marks of ESPN, Nesmith will earn $11 million for each of the two remaining seasons on his current contract.

The extension, which will come into effect starting the 2027-28 season, is valued at $19.4 million for the first year and $21 million for the second year, totaling the agreed $40.4 million. At just 26 years old, Nesmith has established himself as one of the best 3-and-D players in the NBA, combining his outside shooting effectiveness with solid and versatile defense.

Selected with the 14th pick in the 2020 Draft by the Boston Celtics, the small forward was traded to Indiana in the summer of 2022, where he has found his place as a key piece in Rick Carlisle's system. Over the last two regular seasons, the 6'5" player has averaged 12.1 points and 3.9 rebounds in 26.6 minutes per game, shooting .500 from the field, .423 from three-point range, and .829 from the free-throw line.

His impact was particularly visible during the Pacers' historic run to the NBA Finals this year, playing in all 23 playoff games with averages of 12.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and an impressive 49.2% three-point shooting. In fact, according to ESPN, that percentage was the highest among all players attempting at least 100 threes in the postseason, underscoring Nesmith's importance in Indiana's offense.

A strategic and well-measured extension

Nesmith's deal represents the maximum possible for a two-year extension under current NBA rules. The Pacers could have offered up to $62.9 million over three years, but both parties opted for a shorter format, leaving room for future renegotiation based on the team's salary context.

With this renewal, Nesmith joins a list of players who have recently secured their continuity after becoming valuable pieces within their teams. Other names like Toumani Camara and A.J. Green have also agreed to new extensions in recent days, as reported by Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors.

The deal was finalized hours before the deadline for extensions of veterans with non-expiring contracts, set for Thursday night, cementing one of the most significant moves in Indiana's long-term planning.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los Indiana Pacers renuevan a una pieza clave del equipo finalista en 2025