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          The underrated NBA moves making the biggest impact

          Not every transaction from the 2019 NBA offseason grabbed massive attention like the Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Davis trades or the Brooklyn Nets' landing superstars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.

          While Leonard and Davis have had a huge impact, as expected, in the first month of the season, several front-office maneuvers that went unnoticed over the summer are worth highlighting now that they're paying off.

          Here are the under-the-radar transactions from the offseason that have made the biggest impacts early in the 2019-20 season.

          Davis Bertans and Moritz Wagner

          Call it a combination of working ahead, good scouting and a little bit of luck when it comes to how the Washington Wizards acquired these two key contributors.

          First, there were the set-up moves: When the Wizards made five trades during the 2018-19 season, they not only got below the luxury tax but also created five trade exceptions. Two of those exceptions were used in the trades for Bertans and Wagner. Without those exceptions, both players would not be in Washington.

          Now for the luck part. We detailed before the draft how the Lakers were exploring the option to expand the Anthony Davis trade to create an extra $5 million toward the cap. Moving additional salary would've allowed the Lakers to get to $32 million to sign either a max player or multiple free agents. A week later, that plan came to fruition when the Wizards agreed to take Wagner, Isaac Bonga and Jemerrio Jones from L.A.

          Wagner appeared in only 43 games during his rookie season. However, the Washington front office went back to Wagner's pre-draft process, looking at game footage, scouting reports and background intel. That evaluation told them Wagner was worth valuing. He is shooting 48.1% from 3 and has upped his scoring average to 12.7 PPG so far this season. The Wizards have him on a team-controlled contract through 2021-22.

          Bertans landed in Washington because San Antonio needed to create its own trade exception to acquire DeMarre Carroll and sign Marcus Morris to the midlevel exception. Unfortunately for the Spurs, Morris backed out of the agreement after San Antonio set up the Bertans trade.

          In eight games this season, Bertans is averaging a career high in minutes (27.6) and points (11.7). Per Cleaning the Glass, Bertans ranks in the 90th percentile relative to his position in effective field goal percentage (eFG%), 87th percentile in 3-point percentage and 93rd percentile in points per shot attempt. Even if those numbers regress a bit, the Wizards' impressive stretch-4 will be a valuable trade chip over the next three months.

          "Bertans is a difference-maker when it comes to his play on the court," one scout told ESPN. "Don't be surprised if teams are willing to give up a first-rounder for him closer to the deadline."

          Goran Dragic remaining in Miami

          The math did not add up on June 30. Jimmy Butler had agreed to sign with a Miami Heat team that was over the salary cap and $3 million above the tax apron. For a sign-and-trade to work, Miami would've needed to shed enough salary to fit Butler's $32.7 million cap hit. Originally, we thought the additional salary included point guard Goran Dragic going to the Dallas Mavericks as part of a three-team deal.

          However, when talks broke down, Dragic ended up staying put. The Heat eventually traded Hassan Whiteside to the Portland Trail Blazers for Meyers Leonard and used the waive-and-stretch provision on Ryan Anderson. Although Miami lost a future first-rounder as part of the larger four-team trade, Dragic's remaining in a Heat uniform was important. The veteran has made a real impact so far.

          Despite rookie Kendrick Nunn taking over point guard duties, Dragic has relished the role of sixth man. He is averaging 16.1 PPG while shooting 42.4% from 3 on more than six attempts per game. Despite coming off the bench, Dragic has averaged 8.7 minutes in the fourth quarter. He easily could have asked out in the offseason. Instead, he has embraced his role and thrived.

          Aron Baynes and Jevon Carter

          The Suns' acquiring these two players over the summer was originally met with skepticism around the league. Why would Phoenix trade a future first-rounder from Milwaukee for a pick in the mid-20s and a backup center in Baynes, who was on an expiring contract and would compete with former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton for minutes?

          But executive VP Jeff Bower had familiarity with Baynes from his time in Detroit. Adding Baynes, Ricky Rubio and Dario Saric gave the Suns three veterans with strong feel for the game.

          "They just know how to play," one NBA scout said.

          Baynes is now the full-time starter while Ayton serves his 25-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug policy. Not only has Baynes been a solid insurance policy, but he is also Phoenix's most efficient player on both ends of the court. Baynes is the team's best pick-and-roll defender, and he has developed great chemistry with Rubio on the offensive end. Through the first month, 45% of Baynes' made field goals have been assisted by Rubio.

          Plus, Baynes is rock-solid from deep, converting 44.2% of his 4.3 attempts per game. Prior to this season, he had attempted only 89 total 3s, with middling efficiency. He'll cool down some from downtown, but his overall impact is real.

          With regard to Carter, don't let tepid production in 16.4 MPG fool you. Acquired from Memphis along with Kyle Korver in exchange for Josh Jackson, Carter is posting a plus-2.6 net rating when he's on the court. Known for his defensive toughness and on-ball defense, the former second-round pick ranks in the 99th percentile in turnovers forced, per Cleaning the Glass, with a defensive rating of 95.4.

          Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

          Much was made of the bounty of draft picks that the Oklahoma City Thunder received when Paul George was traded to the Clippers. However, the inclusion of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was somewhat overlooked in the moment.

          The Clippers had put such a premium on the guard that he was deemed close to untouchable at February's trade deadline, even if that meant an opportunity to get Anthony Davis as a one-year rental. It took the combination of landing Leonard and George to get the Clippers to relent and let SGA go.

          What Gilgeous-Alexander has done in his sophomore season with the Thunder is borderline All-Star-worthy.

          He has thrived off the ball in OKC, logging 84% of his minutes at the 2 after playing 97% of them at the 1 with the Clippers. As Zach Lowe pointed out, the three-headed point guard lineup of Chris Paul, Gilgeous-Alexander and Dennis Schroder is plus-40 when all three are on the court.

          Gilgeous-Alexander gives OKC options during this rebuilding process. The Thunder have a potential franchise player in the fold without enduring a full-on tank.

          Monty Williams and Ryan Saunders

          We normally don't reserve a section for coaching hires when it comes to underrated transactions. However, hiring the right coach can be just as important as decisions in trades, the draft and free agency. Williams and Saunders both deserve recognition for what they have accomplished so far. For starters, both the Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves were projected to finish outside the top eight in the Western Conference before the season started. The two teams are a combined 15-13 and would be in the playoffs if the season ended today (yes, we have a long way to go).

          In Phoenix, Williams took what was known to be the graveyard of coaching jobs in the NBA. Since the 2015-16 season, the Suns have had five head coaches. They went 87-241 in that span and were best known for the dysfunction in their front office. A revamped front office should get credit for the veteran additions, but Williams has helped this team shape an identity on the offensive end. The Suns rank No. 6 in offensive rating, No. 5 in fast-break points, No. 1 in assist rate, No. 5 in assist-to-turnover ratio and No. 5 in eFG%.

          Unlike with Phoenix, where Williams had no prior relationship with the roster, Ryan Saunders had a five-month job audition with the Wolves last season. He was the best man for the job, based on his body of work during the 31 games he coached and the stability he would bring to the roster. Now in his first full season, Saunders has led Minnesota to a winning record while helping Andrew Wiggins play the best basketball of his young career.

          We also should note the job Luke Walton has done since the Sacramento Kings started the season 0-5. The Kings have since gone 6-2, including wins against Boston and Utah. The two losses were to the Lakers and Raptors by a combined six points. It would have been easy for the young Kings to let go of the rope early in the season -- especially without De'Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley III -- but Walton and his staff should be praised for keeping this group together. Part of the job of a coach is to manage the locker room. So far Walton has done a good job of that.

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