5 NBA Teams Quietly Crushed 2026 Offseason With Picks, Value Deals and 2-for-1 Swings
Updated
Updated · Bleacher Report · Aug 1
5 NBA Teams Quietly Crushed 2026 Offseason With Picks, Value Deals and 2-for-1 Swings
3 articles · Updated · Bleacher Report · Aug 1
Summary
Five teams stood out as under-the-radar offseason winners by maximizing value rather than chasing splash—San Antonio, Utah, Milwaukee, Charlotte and Memphis.
San Antonio kept its Finals core cheap with Julian Champagnie at three years, $45 million, Harrison Barnes at $8 million and a Victor Wembanyama extension that could save about $10 million annually.
Utah turned Walker Kessler into two Lakers first-round picks and two swaps, then patched the middle with Jusuf Nurkić and Jaxson Hayes while preserving flexibility for a future star trade.
Milwaukee extracted a hefty Giannis Antetokounmpo return—Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis and three firsts—while Charlotte flipped LaMelo Ball for Naz Reid and a 2033 first.
Memphis moved on from Ja Morant without attaching picks, added Quinten Post and Isaiah Stewart, and preserved a $28.5 million trade exception, leaving the roster more flexible and future-focused.