• Aaron Nesmith averaged 14.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in the Pacers' first-round series.

Tyrese Haliburton's trade is changing. Pascal Siakam trade is transformational. But don't stress the deal that brings Aaron Nesmith to the Pacers.

Nesmith plays on his shoulders. In the summer of 2022, he was firmly fixed there after the deal from Boston to Indiana.

The Celtics were ranked 14th overall in 2020, but their patience made him thin, swapping him for Malcolm Brogdon's Pacers.

At the time, it was a trade, an industry that praised the Celtics and Brad Stevens.

Boston robbed them. My God.

This is a robbery.

Walkers robbed in broad sunlight.

You get it.

"Stevens' excellent move to get Brogdon without giving up a rotation player was a brilliant move," wrote the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn after the deal. "Nestmith is an Anshan draft pick and he's never been eliminated because he expects he's expected to be a three-point shooter who's expected to come out of Vanderbilt.

“It’s a disturbing statement because Ness Smith’s struggle may be psychological and it’s obviously time for a new team.”

In addition to Nesmith, Boston sent Nick Stuskas, Daniel Tees, Juwang Morgan, Malik Fitz and 2023 first-round draft picks to the Pacers.

A tweet in particular caught Nesmith's eye. The Bleacher report released a SpongeBob meme: "What did the Celtic give up for Brogdon," an open hand with only a roll of paper and spare rope.

"I saw this tweet once a deal happened and saved it right away. I'm a person who took things personally and I think it helps me better. That's what made me drive to the gym at night. Seeing this tweet is surely always in my heart."

Most trade ratings are highly inclined toward the Celtics. But over time, it looks like a genius walker, not a “Stevens Master Class.”

Brogdon (14.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.7 APG) did win the sixth man of the year, but played for only one season in Boston. In the Celtics' Eastern Conference Finals, he performed particularly badly in seven games in Miami, averaging only 5.7 points and 1.3 assists, with 31% shooting percentage, including a third shot in the series. Boston upgraded in the 2023 offseason to send Brogg to Portland for Jaru Holiday.

The Celtics won the 2024 NBA Finals on a point guard vacation, while the frequently injured Brogdon missed the past two seasons with Portland and Washington.

Meanwhile, Nesmith became an important gear for a growing Pacers team. He scored averages in every three seasons at Indiana, a strong guard who averaged a career-high 14.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in the Pacers’ five-game series. His pursuit of Bobby Portis in Game 4 was one of the outstanding moments in the series.

"He sacrificed himself, man," said Myles Turner, Pacers Center. "That way it's not fun to fall on your back, but it's a big show for us. It's not new to him. The team Aaron Nesmith brought to us is perfect. Just a tough guy. I think he just sold the great job. He'll sell it out.

"That's who Double-A is," Tyrese Haliburton added. "What he brings doesn't always come out on the scoring table. Some people say, like, they're willing to die for it. Double-a is willing to die for it. He dies for him every night, and I think every team in the NBA wants someone like Aaron Nesmith. Every team wins a big win and ends up winning a guy like Aaron Nesmith."

Let's review the trade ratings, the on-site reaction to trade, and of course, this is the Pacers in hindsight.

∎ Andy Bailey, Bleacher Report: B+

“If it’s the best they can get, it’s great. Waiting for a deal deadline might help, but it can also backfire. Brogdon has suffered all the damage over the past few years, and another in 2022-23 may be afraid of the fear of teams away from including any first innings.

∎ Michael Kaskey-Blomain, CBS Sports: B-

The "cautious person" known as the walker to look at the future.

"With the Celtics again performing well next season, this draft may not be too high, but it's still valuable. It's arguably they should stick to Brodgon until the trade deadline to maximize his trade value, but that's just speculation. The team found the deal they liked and they're not there now."

∎ Cole Huff, win: b-

"Maybe Nasmith will end up being something. It might be flipped, but if not, he's a good placeholder and the Pacers rebuild. Nothing else who's involved is important. However, I like the deals offered for Indy, but I don't like it."

∎ Michael Pina, Sports Illustrated: C+

"It's not very cruel, but is this really the best thing Indiana does? The deal is complicated negotiations, and I'm sure they're rushing to the league for some kind of combination of young talent and capital. It takes a roster of interested teams who are guarding and willing to provide Brogdon with both things, though, but maybe not that long."

"(Indiana) is a team that has a long way to go before it's good again. It's a good enough move (although unobtrusive) to take them where they want to go."

∎ Zach Harper, Track and Field: c-

“The Pacers could have done better here, but they are living deep in the lottery, and that’s how they choose to reset.

"The issue of reward is that the young people the Pacers get are not the ones they can't stand out from the G League, the experienced role-player is someone who can turn around and get a second-round pick, and the 2023 first-round pick doesn't give them a high possibility."

Former Indystar reporter Matthew Vantryon contributed to the story.

Send Indystar's Pacers Cover range directly via the Pacers Update newsletter.