The 2026 NBA offseason will be remembered for a number of major moves, from LeBron James to Jaylen Brown to Giannis Antetokounmpo and beyond.
But in between the headlines and the blockbusters, a few teams have quietly gone about their business in ways that could end up having far bigger impacts than they’ve gotten credit for up until now.
Here are three moves from the 2026 NBA offseason that have gone surprisingly under-the-radar so far.
Marcus Smart to Rockets
After a solid lone year with the Los Angeles Lakers, PG/SG Marcus Smart has signed a two-year, $13M contract with the Houston Rockets. The former Defensive Player of the Year will only further boost the lockdown threat of a team that already features Amen Thompson and Tari Eason, but Smart’s primary upside for Houston will be in the depth and security he provides Ime Udoka.