As the 2025–26 NBA season tips off, the ink is barely dry on several major extensions that are shaping the league’s future.
From breakout defenders to playoff-tested wings and rising starters, front offices across the league wasted no time locking in their core pieces before the deadline hit.
Three of the most notable deals came from Indiana, Denver, and Atlanta, where Aaron Nesmith, Christian Braun, and Dyson Daniels each secured long-term security and sent a clear message: their teams are building around youth, defense, and efficiency.
Aaron Nesmith: Indiana’s Quiet Constant
While Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin grab most of the spotlight, Aaron Nesmith has quietly become Indiana’s glue guy — and the Pacers rewarded him for it.
According to reports, the 26-year-old forward has agreed to a two-year, $40.4 million contract extension. For a player once considered a “throw-in” in the Malcolm Brogdon trade with Boston, Nesmith’s rise has been impressive.
Drafted No. 14 overall in 2020, Nesmith struggled to find his rhythm in Boston. But under Rick Carlisle, he’s thrived as a classic 3-and-D wing, improving his three-point accuracy each season — from 36.6% in 2022-23 to 41.3% in 2024-25.
Nesmith averaged double figures for the first time in his career last season and became an essential floor spacer during Indiana’s run to the 2025 NBA Finals. His defensive versatility — switching between guards and forwards — gives the Pacers the kind of stability every contender needs.
This deal doesn’t just secure depth; it ensures continuity. With Haliburton’s max deal already locked in and Mathurin developing fast, Indiana is positioning itself as a long-term threat in the East. Nesmith’s ability to defend elite wings and hit open shots makes him the perfect complementary piece in Carlisle’s high-tempo offense.
Christian Braun: From Role Player to Core Piece
When the Denver Nuggets drafted Christian Braun 21st overall in 2022, few expected him to become one of the most reliable two-way guards in the league by Year 3. Now, the 24-year-old is cashing in — and deservedly so.
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Braun and the Nuggets have agreed to a five-year, $125 million rookie extension, locking him in through 2030.
Last season, Braun started full-time for the first time and delivered: 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game on 58% shooting from the field and 39.7% from three.
But it’s not just the stats — it’s the poise. Braun has championship experience, having been a key bench contributor during Denver’s 2023 NBA title run, including a memorable 15-point performance in Game 3 of the Finals.
With the departures of Bruce Brown (in 2023) and Michael Porter Jr. (traded to Brooklyn this summer), Braun’s role has expanded significantly. The Nuggets’ offseason moves — adding Cameron Johnson and bringing back Bruce Brown — hint at a deeper rotation built around Nikola Jokić’s playmaking brilliance.
Denver’s front office made its message clear: Braun isn’t a role player anymore — he’s a foundational piece in their pursuit of multiple championships.
Dyson Daniels: Atlanta’s New Defensive Engine
The Atlanta Hawks made headlines of their own, inking Dyson Daniels to a four-year, $100 million rookie extension, just one season after acquiring him in the blockbuster Dejounte Murray trade.
Daniels, the No. 8 pick in the 2022 Draft, has gone from defensive prospect to defensive powerhouse. Last season, he earned both NBA Most Improved Player and All-Defensive Team honors — and was the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year.
His 229 steals in 2024–25 were the most in a single season since Gary Payton in 1995–96, and his per-game averages — 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 3.0 steals — paint the picture of a complete, two-way guard.
At just 22, Daniels has become the defensive anchor Atlanta desperately needed next to Trae Young. The Hawks envision a future core of Young, Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and Zaccharie Risacher, their 2024 No. 1 overall pick.
For a franchise that’s struggled with identity since its 2021 Eastern Conference Finals run, this extension signifies a new direction — one rooted in defense, balance, and homegrown talent.
A Changing Landscape of NBA Deals
The modern NBA has shifted from supermax headlines to smart, mid-tier extensions. Teams are investing in versatile, switchable players who can contribute on both ends — and these three deals reflect that.
The numbers might not rival the $285 million supermax Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed earlier this month, but the impact on team structure is arguably just as important. Each of these extensions gives their respective teams flexibility — both financially and schematically.
Indiana keeps its Finals-tested depth intact.
Denver solidifies a young co-star beside Jokić.
Atlanta locks in the league’s next elite perimeter defender.
In an NBA era defined by cap management and fit, these moves show how much the league has evolved from chasing “Big Threes” to building deep, adaptable rosters.
The Bottom Line
Before the first jump ball of 2025–26, front offices already shaped the next few seasons with these deals. Each extension rewards performance, consistency, and upside — not hype.
Aaron Nesmith, Christian Braun, and Dyson Daniels are proof that smart teams no longer wait until superstardom to commit; they recognize value early.
As Opening Night arrives, one theme is clear: the bag is still being handed out, but this year, it’s going to the right players.
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