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This NBA offseason was very active, with multiple superstars being moved to different teams. Players like LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo will be playing elsewhere in the 2026-27 season. Yet, it’s not the stars that win you games all the time. Rosters succeed based on fit, and certain role players can make a major impact.
With that in mind, here are the best under-the-radar moves made this summer as we close in on the start of NBA training camp next week.
Indiana Pacers Signing Kelly Oubre Jr.
NBA: Playoffs-New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers8
May 8, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) dunks the ball against the New York Knicks during the third quarter of game three of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The Indiana Pacers enter the season as an under-the-radar franchise as a whole. With a returning Tyrese Haliburton and Ivica Zubac, this team is already set up for success out east. They used their remaining cap space to sign Kelly Oubre Jr. to a two-year, $16.5 million contract.
Oubre is a great wing to have on a contending team. He is great at getting to the rim because he embraces physicality. He can knock down three-pointers consistently, but most important is his point-of-attack defense. He stands at 6-foot-8, 205 pounds, with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, making him a lengthier defender. Pairing him alongside Aaron Nesmith defensively will give Indiana two great defenders that can guard one-through-four.
Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Oubre will surely have a positive impact on this team. Stealing him from the Philadelphia 76ers, who made many moves of their own, was great for another Eastern Conference team.
Philadelphia 76ers Signing Dean Wade
NBA: Playoffs-New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers8
May 25, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) rebounds the ball in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks during game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Similar to the Oubre signing, Dean Wade adds a great perimeter defender to the Philadelphia 76ers rotation. This move was made before they added two other superstars, but it will still have a big impact on their team’s defense.
Wade was the primary defender in Cleveland, and will be in Philadelphia. He’s never been a scorer, but has a consistent outside jumper, which has allowed him to shoot 37% from three in his career. Wade is 6-foot-9 230 pounds, meaning he can take on some center assignments. That will be important for Philadelphia in case Joel Embiid ever is injured or is preserving himself for offense.
Despite the 76ers making some major transactions this offseason, don’t let the Dean Wade signing get swept under the rug. You may find him closing out games simply because of his defensive versatility at times.
Cleveland Cavaliers Trading For Peyton Watson
NBA: Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets8
Mar 25, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson (8) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers now have one of the most well-rounded starting lineups in the NBA with the addition of Peyton Watson. While he was brought in to be their primary perimeter defender, last season he had an offensive breakthrough. He averaged 14.6 points per game on 41% from three and 49% from the field.
Watson provides some much-needed relief for James Harden and Donovan Mitchell on defense. The Cavaliers needed someone to replace Wade, and they took advantage of the Denver Nuggets’ financial issues.
Watson is the perfect long-term small forward for Cleveland, after they had been searching for one ever since James left. For Cleveland to acquire Watson to fill out their starting unit was a massively underrated move.
Phoenix Suns Signing Luke Kennard
NBA: Playoffs-Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers8
May 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luke Kennard (10) controls the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) during the second half in game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Luke Kennard is one of, if not the best, three-point shooters in the NBA. It may sound crazy to say, but his numbers back it up. He is a career 44% shooter from beyond the arc, on 4.3 attempts a night. The Phoenix Suns were able to sign him to just a two-year $13 million deal this offseason.
Phoenix has such a strong rotation of guards and wings, and Kennard will fit perfectly with their squad. He never needs the ball to score, and 55% of his shots are from three, while 95.46% of them were assisted last season.
Putting him next to Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks gives them such a great option on offense. Phoenix certainly isn’t the strongest team in the Western Conference, but adding one of the league’s best sharpshooters is never a bad idea.
Boston Celtics Signing Mitchell Robinson
NBA: Finals-San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks8
Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) jumps to catch a pass and dunk the ball against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during game four of the 2026 NBA Finals in the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Last season, the Boston Celtics’ center position was a big question mark. They developed Neemias Queta into one of the league’s breakout candidates, but struggled to find quality backup minutes.
This offseason, they addressed that problem and signed Mitchell Robinson to a three-year, $47 million contract. Whether Robinson starts or comes off the bench, his impact will be the same. The most underrated part of this move for Boston was that they poached him from the New York Knicks, strengthening their roster and weakening New York’s.
Robinson is exactly what Boston needed. A physical big man to chase down rebounds, set hard screens, and just cause overall chaos. Boston’s center rotation isn’t necessarily a scoring threat now, but fits right into how their playstyle has been these past few years.
Miami Heat Signing Tim Hardaway Jr.
NBA: Playoffs-Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves8
Apr 30, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) shoots the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half during game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
After the acquisition of Antetokounmpo, the Miami Heat’s roster looked a little thin. They gutted a lot of their depth to acquire the Greek Freak, meaning they would need some players to sign team-friendly deals to fill out their roster.
That’s exactly what Tim Hardaway Jr. did, and he was the perfect guy for it. The Heat’s spacing looked iffy at best, with an Andrew Wiggins, Bam Adebayo, Antetokounmpo frontcourt. Hardaway may not start, but his shooting will be super important to this team.
Last season in Denver, he shot 40.7% from deep on 6.9 attempts a night. He was third in Sixth Man of the Year voting, and averaged 13.5 points a game coming off the bench. He is a dynamic movement shooter that will be the perfect piece alongside Antetokounmpo and company.
San Antonio Spurs Signing Tobias Harris
NBA: Playoffs-Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons8
May 17, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) dribbles against Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) in the second half during game seven of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
The San Antonio Spurs reached the NBA Finals last season with a young core. This year, they enter with that same young core, just with a year of experience. One of their few weaknesses was pairing Victor Wembanyama with a scorer at the power forward position.
San Antonio addressed that and signed veteran forward Tobias Harris. Harris has been criticized for many years, mainly due to his contract, but the Spurs got him on a great two-year $30 million deal. Harris proved last season that he was still a reliable scorer and can step up when needed.
He stands at 6-foot-8 and thrives in both isolation and off the ball. Harris averaged 13.3 points a game last year for the Detroit Pistons, but stepped up in the playoffs as a true second option. San Antonio won’t need that level of scoring from him, which will make his life even easier. This was a move that has almost no downside and will come in handy come playoff time.
Chicago Bulls Trading For Nic Claxton
NBA: Atlanta Hawks at Brooklyn Nets8
Apr 3, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) dribbles the ball against Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
By no means are the Chicago Bulls looking to compete for a championship next season, but the new lottery odds change how teams build their roster. Chicago had a gaping hole at center and needed someone to fill that role who wasn’t Jalen Smith.
Chicago was aware of this and acquired Nic Claxton for next to nothing. Claxton isn’t a perfect center, but he certainly has his defining qualities. He is a terrific rim-protector and makes an impact without scoring. He is efficient around the rim, rebounds, and is just a solid center for Chicago to have.
He will make their starting five more respectable and won’t hinder the development of their young guys. For Chicago to make a move like this immediately after hiring new management is a sign of success for their future.