Getting traded was the best thing to ever happen to Aaron Nesmith

Nesmith still has two years remaining on his current three-year, $33 million deal. The fact that Indiana has already moved to lock him up for an additional two years, with a $9 million per year increase for the final two seasons, proves how valuable he has become to the franchise. Not only does Nesmith's perimeter scoring help unlock Carlisle's offense, but his defense has also been a key part of the Pacers' steady growth in recent years.

Getting traded was Aaron Nesmith's best option

Nesmith is unlikely to have reached his current heights if he'd stayed with the Celtics. And that's not because he isn't good enough, but rather, the minutes wouldn't have been available for him to develop into the player he is now. His first season in Indiana saw him start 60 games and have the freedom to learn from his mistakes without the fear of being pulled off the court.

In the NBA, a player's success is often just as reliant on fit and opportunity with their franchise as it is on their overall talent. Nesmith getting traded afforded him that fit and opportunity. The hard work he's put in since that move has paid off. 

And now, he's got four more years under contract on guaranteed money, with plenty more to come if he can stay healthy and continue contributing at a high level. Nesmith has earned his stripes in the league and will now have a focus on making plenty more deep playoff runs in the years to come.