Celtics could bring back Pacers rising star in 3-team blockbuster

The Boston Celtics could reunite with an explosive two-way guard this summer if they’re willing to make a bold trade.

As Indiana Pacers shooting guard Aaron Nesmith caught fire on Wednesday night and led an impossible comeback over the New York Knicks on 8-for-9 shooting from three, Celtics fans experienced a bittersweet moment.

Some fans expressed happiness for Nesmith, a former No. 14 overall pick of the Celtics who spent two seasons with Boston before being traded to Indiana in the Malcolm Brogdon deal.

Others expressed regret that perhaps the Celtics gave up on Nesmith too early, envisioning how valuable his feisty defense, aggressive mentality, and three-point shooting would be on Boston’s current team.

In defense of Celtics GM Brad Stevens trading Nesmith in 2022, Nesmith was a young player at that point who hadn’t shown the type of potential that he’s revealed on the Pacers. Nesmith was a career 4.2 points per game scorer when Stevens turned him into Brogdon, who won Sixth Man of the Year with the Celtics the following season.

The season after that, Stevens turned Brogdon into Jrue Holiday, who immediately helped Boston win a championship.

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Looking back, you can’t regret a trade that led you to Holiday if you are the Celtics.

And from Nesmith’s perspective, he needed to leave Boston to play a larger role somewhere else and cash in on his potential. It was a good trade for everyone, in hindsight.

But what if the Celtics decided to bring Nesmith back, now that he’s leveled up, especially if such a move aligned with Boston's desire to shed salary?

The Celtics could pull off a three-team deal to land Nesmith and a young, impactful center from the Brooklyn Nets in a trade that would save Boston nearly $15M next season and more money down the line.

Here’s the kicker: Boston would be including Jaylen Brown in the deal.

The Trade

Celtics receive…

• Aaron Nesmith
• Nic Claxton
• Johnny Furphy

Nets receive…

• Jaylen Brown

Pacers receive…

• Cam Johnson
• No. 8 overall pick (2025)

The Nets lack a superstar to build around at the moment, and Brown has always been seen as a guy with first-option potential stuck playing behind Jayson Tatum. Could Brown-to-Brooklyn work out for both parties in that regard?

At just 28 years old, Brown represents a guy the Nets could center their franchise around moving forward. He’s extremely marketable, and he’s done nothing but win.

From the Pacers’ perspective, the prospect of losing a young stud in Nesmith would make them hesitant to jump on board here, but the No. 8 pick might fix that, as Indiana could snag someone at that spot who might help expand their Tyrese Haliburton-centric championship window.

Getting Cam Johnson would be awesome for the Pacers, too, as he’d provide the type of bucket-getting Indiana needs around Haliburton (but doesn't always have).

A lot of Celtics fans will scoff at this return for Brown, but remember that Boston is aiming to cut costs.

Not only would this deal save the Celtics cash in the short-term, but they’d also save money down the line by parting ways with Brown’s remaining four years of massive salary ($59M yearly average).

Claxton’s deal expires a year earlier than Brown’s ($23.1M yearly average); Nesmith’s, two years earlier ($11M per year).

Claxton could be a great piece for Boston considering they might lose Luke Kornet in free agency and are also starting at the imminent retirement of Al Horford.

A Nesmith-Derrick White defensive backcourt would be wildly effective for the Celtics.

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