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In-Season Tournament Boston Celtics killer would've been more valuable than player Cs traded him for: Analyst

One of the key Pacers who helped eliminate the Boston Celtics from the In-Season Tournament would've been more valuable to the Cs than the player they traded him for in 2022.

By Andrew Hughes

Boston Celtics v Indiana Pacers: Quarterfinals - 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament
Boston Celtics v Indiana Pacers: Quarterfinals - 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament / Dylan Buell/GettyImages
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MassLive's Brian Robb believes the Boston Celtics would've gotten more value from one of the C's In-Season Tournament killers in the quarterfinals round, Aaron Nesmith, than the player they traded him for, Malcolm Brogdon, after a 14-point showing that saw 11 of those points scored in the fourth quarter.

"At just 24 years of age, the best is likely yet to come for Nesmith in his new home as he has been awarded more opportunities than he saw during his first two uneven years in Boston," Robb prefaced before saying, "With the new CBA putting the squeeze on spending limitations for tax teams, Nesmith would have been an appealing depth piece to keep around Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum for the future in hindsight, perhaps more valuable to the team than Brogdon was last season."

Considering Brogdon's protest following his initial inclusion in the Kristaps Porzingis trade before the proposal had to be amended because of the point guard's health, the Celtics didn't get nearly the kind of value they should have out of the 2022-23 Sixth Man of the Year. Brogdon being injured during the postseason, when his presence mattered the most, certainly soured the relationship on both sides.

Aaron Nesmith admitted In-Season Tournament quarterfinals matchup with Boston Celtics was revenge game

Nesmith didn't want to get revenge on the Celtics for his own situation, like Brogdon might with the Portland Trail Blazers in March and April if he's still in the Rose City after the February trade deadline, but he did admit the Pacers wanted revenge for the C's 155-104 blowout win at the TD Garden on November 1.

“We all really looked forward to this game especially with how we performed in Boston earlier this year,” Nesmith told Bally Sports after the win. “This game meant more to us, not only for the in-season tournament but for a little revenge game.”

Revenge has been achieved by Nesmith and Indiana. Now the Celtics must focus on winning Banner 18 after being unable to be the first-ever In-Season Tournament champions.

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