By: @OOSSports
The biggest NBA offseason moves naturally dominate attention. LeBron James choosing Philadelphia and the 76ers landing Jaylen Brown reshaped the championship picture, while several other blockbuster transactions changed expectations across the league.
Some of the most consequential moves, however, could prove to be the ones that received considerably less attention.
The Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, and Philadelphia 76ers each made additions this summer that fit specific roster needs without requiring the kind of massive financial or draft-capital commitments attached to headline-grabbing deals. Those transactions may not define the offseason today, but all three could become significantly more important once the 2026-27 season begins.
The Grizzlies acquire Isaiah Stewart for three second-round picks
The Memphis Grizzlies added exactly the kind of player their developing roster needed when they acquired Isaiah Stewart from the Detroit Pistons for three second-round picks.
Stewart brings the physical edge Memphis has historically embraced. He gives the Grizzlies another strong interior defender who can protect the rim, rebound, and handle difficult frontcourt assignments without needing the offense built around him.
His defensive impact extends well beyond conventional box-score production. Stewart emerged as one of Detroit’s tone-setters last season, and his ability to challenge shots was apparent throughout the year.
That profile should translate especially well to a young Memphis roster built around Cameron Boozer.
Stewart also provides enough offensive versatility to avoid becoming a liability. He is a low-usage scorer who can finish inside, attack the glass and provide enough shooting to keep defenses honest from the perimeter.
He does not need significant usage to matter. The Grizzlies can ask him to defend, screen, crash the glass and bring physicality every night.
Three second-round selections is a modest price for a player who could immediately become one of the roster’s cultural anchors.
Hawks bring back C.J. McCollum on a team-friendly deal
Atlanta’s decision to retain C.J. McCollum might ultimately prove even more valuable.
The Hawks brought McCollum back on a one-year, $21 million deal after he became a major part of their turnaround following the Trae Young trade.
McCollum gave Atlanta something every playoff team needs: a veteran who can create a quality shot when an offense stalls.
That became especially obvious during the Hawks’ first-round series against the New York Knicks, when McCollum emerged as one of Atlanta’s most dependable late-game options.
For $21 million and only one additional season of commitment, Atlanta preserved that crunch-time element without sacrificing long-term flexibility.
The move also gives the Hawks time to develop Kingston Flemings without forcing him into a major creation role immediately. Atlanta can allow its younger guards to grow organically while McCollum handles difficult possessions and stabilizes the offense.
That matters for a team with legitimate playoff ambitions.
McCollum’s skill set remains valuable because reliable self-created offense becomes harder to manufacture during postseason basketball. Atlanta also continued adding defensive-minded pieces around him, including Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Zuby Ejiofor.
The Hawks did not need another centerpiece. They needed continuity, shot creation and experience. Bringing McCollum back checked every box.
Dean Wade could become a vital piece of the 76ers’ rotation.
Dean Wade became easy to overlook once Philadelphia’s offseason escalated into something much bigger.
The 76ers signed the versatile forward to a four-year, $38 million contract before completing their star-heavy roster makeover.
His role now makes even more sense.
Philadelphia has no shortage of offensive firepower. What it needs around LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid are players capable of defending multiple positions, spacing the floor and functioning without touches.
Wade fits that description.
The 29-year-old does his best work on the defensive end. At 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, he moves well enough laterally to defend on the perimeter while still providing enough size to handle bigger forwards.
Offensively, Wade is exactly the kind of complementary player a star-heavy lineup needs. Roughly 70% of his field-goal attempts come from beyond the arc, where he has connected at approximately a 36% rate.
That combination becomes especially important around Philadelphia’s high-usage stars.
Wade can defend wings, switch across multiple positions and potentially absorb small-ball center minutes when Embiid is unavailable. His contract may look insignificant compared with Philadelphia’s blockbuster additions, but his versatility should give Nick Nurse considerable lineup flexibility.
Championship teams often need role players who make the stars easier to use. Wade has a chance to become exactly that.
Stewart, McCollum and Wade will not define the 2026 offseason’s headlines. By next spring, however, each could look considerably more important than the attention their moves received when they happened.
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