The NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone, but not much has changed across the landscape of the league.
It was a relatively quiet trade deadline. There weren’t any stars available this go around. Most of the moves we saw were simply done to shift role players around and build depth around the cores across the league.
READ MORE: Why the NBA trade deadline was so boring
Still, despite not much changing with these moves, the NBA is still in a good place. The league is competitive in both conferences and the top of the West is setting up to be a race that we’ll remember for years to come.
Here’s a look at this week’s NBA Power Rankings.
1
Boston Celtics
The Celtics were the one team that wasn’t involved in many trade rumors around the deadline. That’s because Boston didn’t have to be. Boston only made moves on the fringes with trades to move role players around and get ready for that stretch run in the postseason. This team has been rolling right along as the NBA’s best all season long.
READ MORE: Why the Xavier Tillman trade was such a good move for the Celtics
2
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets are one of the four teams at the top of the NBA’s Western Conference fighting for first place. Currently, Denver is tied with the Clippers as the No. 1 overall seed and holding steady after a win over the Lakers on Thursday.
READ MORE: Six cool things about Nikola Jokic from this New Yorker profile
3
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves’ move to get Monte Morris and strengthen up its guard rotation was a smart one. Minnesota’s offensive struggles have plagued this team all season long. Morris isn’t exactly a game-changing guard, but his ability to take care of the ball and make shots should help a bit.
4
Cleveland Cavaliers
Not enough people are talking about the Cavaliers as serious contenders to make it out of the Eastern Conference. Darius Garland and Evan Mobley are back in the lineup now after missing time with their respective injuries and this team is on fire. Cleveland has won eight straight games, including three impressive wins over the Clippers, Bucks and Kings.
READ MORE: This Cavs 21-0 run on the Nets after a skirmish shows you just how good Cleveland can be
5
L.A. Clippers
Kawhi Leonard’s MVP buzz is getting stronger with Joel Embiid officially out of the race due to injury. He’s got a legitimate claim to it. The Clippers are the No. 2 overall seed in the West and he’s on a tear. If L.A. continues to outshine Oklahoma City, he might win it.
6
Oklahoma City Thunder
Speaking of Oklahoma City, the Thunder are just a half game out of first place in the Western Conference now after a puzzling loss to the Utah Jazz. Even still, this team is right in the thick of it. And the addition of Gordon Hayward — when he’s healthy — should add a bit of scoring punch for this team on the wing.
READ MORE: Gordon Hayward trade grades
7
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are quietly just sneaking up the Western Conference standings. This team is 7-3 in its last 10 games and seems pretty unguardable when the trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are all healthy. The addition of Royce O’Neale will give this team a bit more shooting on the wing to power up that offense even more.
8
New York Knicks
The Knicks are in quite the tough spot right now. The team’s two best players (Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson) are both out with injuries as we inch closer to the All-Star break. Brunson’s injury doesn’t appear to be as serious, though, and he should be back soon. The Knicks need him, as we saw in the matchup on Thursday against the Mavericks.
9
Milwaukee Bucks
Speaking of being in precarious spots, the Doc Rivers era is not off to a great start in Milwaukee. The team is 1-5 through six games with a -7.3 point differential.
Dorktown: Doc Rivers! pic.twitter.com/K7o7WTYMat
— Secret Base (@secretbase) February 9, 2024
Now, the team hasn’t exactly been healthy. Both Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton are out with ankle injuries. We have to wait a bit longer to see what this team can truly be under Rivers.
10
New Orleans Pelicans
Like the Suns, the Pelicans are flying a bit under the radar here. At 30-21 and on a four game winning streak, the Pels are somehow No. 6 in the Western Conference. New Orleans is setting up to be a matchup no one wants any parts of in the playoffs.
11
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers are just free falling at this point. It’s hard to blame them considering the reigning MVP is out for a while with a meniscus tear. Philly is now 3-7 in its last 10 games and has lost three straight. But the 76ers have two easier games coming up with Atlanta and Washington on the schedule before it gets tough again.
12
Sacramento Kings
The Kings are just a half game behind the Pelicans at 29-21 and still looking like one of the better teams in the Western Conference. I’ll tell you what, man. The West playoffs this year are going to be a bloodbath.
13
Indiana Pacers
Pascal Siakam hasn’t fixed the Pacers defense — it’s 119.4 defensive rating over the last 12 games is essentially where it’s been all year long. The problem is the offense is a bit worse than it was previously, which is what is bound to happen when Tyrese Haliburton misses a bit of time.
14
Dallas Mavericks
There’s just something about these Dallas Mavericks, man. Some nights Luka Doncic and his crew look amazing. Other nights, we see Dallas getting dominated in the second half of games by good teams like the Milwaukee Bucks. Maybe this team is just destined for the 8th seed.
15
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat have been one of the more puzzling teams we’ve seen so far this season. Miami was content to sit back during the trade deadline and not shuffle the deck to get a bit of help offensively. Over the last 12 games, the Heat’s 109.5 offensive rating is good for 28th in the NBA and just over the Wizards for dead last. That’s not good.
16
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic have come down to Earth quite a bit since the calendar turned. In the team’s last 20 games since January 1, Orlando is 9-11. The defense has regressed a bit from the dominant unit we saw to start the season and the offense hasn’t come around yet.
17
Los Angeles Lakers
It’s hard to see the Lakers as a playoff team at this point in the season. This team rested on its laurels and didn’t make a deal during the trade deadline. That was probably for the best — LA would’ve been wasting assets on role players that wouldn’t have made much of a difference. It’s just sad to see another good LeBron James season going to waste.
18
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz got busy at the trade deadline, moving Kelly Olynyk to get a future draft asset from the Toronto Raptors. That’s not going to help this team in the short-term, but it may help build Utah back into a contender someday moving forward.
READ MORE: Kelly Olynyk trade grades
19
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors standing pat during the deadline came as a surprise to folks on the outside. Of course, this isn’t a team that normally makes moves around the deadline, but considering where Golden State is in the standings and how good the West that’s probably smart business.
20
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls confuse me. This is a team that has players that everyone seems to want. Not only that, but some teams also seemed willing to pay a hefty price for Chicago’s players. Yet, here we are. Another deadline has passed and the Chicago Bulls have done nothing.
21
Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta seemed to be on the cusp of trading Dejounte Murray but ultimately chose to keep its team together. The Hawks need to find a bit of a stride, though, because the rest of the Eastern Conference is leaving Atlanta behind.
22
Houston Rockets
Houston is exactly where it should be. This team isn’t very good, but it’s a competitive outfit every single night. The Rockets have a bunch of players who play hard and play the right way. Alperen Sengun also looks like a star in the making. Next season will be better in Houston.
23
Brooklyn Nets
Ben Simmons has returned for the Nets but it hasn’t really amounted to much. The Nets have lost three straight games and look like a team that should’ve been selling off parts during the trade deadline. That’s a tough spot to be in considering Brooklyn doesn’t have its own pick.
24
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors puzzling trade moves make you wonder what the future of this team will actually look like. It’s not easy to complete remake a team on the fly — especially building around a player like Scottie Barnes, who is extremely unique. But giving up assets for a backup center just doesn’t seem like good business.
25
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are punting on this season. The Steven Adams trade tells us as much. Memphis’ new backup center won’t even be able to play until next season. It’s about the 2024-25 season for Memphis.
26
Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers sitting on Malcolm Brogdon was a bit surprising, but it may be smart. He’s still under contract for next season and will definitely have more value heading into the offseason when free agency dies down.
27
San Antonio Spurs
Victor Wembanyama seems to be emerging as a bit of a favorite for Rookie of the Year again. He’s back on top of the NBA’s ladder after giving some dominant performances in January. Chet Holmgren is still right there, but we’ve never seen anything like Vic before.
28
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons, folks! This team is actually winning games. Jaden Ivey has emerged as a gem over his last four games with impressive performances.
Jaden Ivey last 4 games:
28 PTS – 7 REB – 3 AST – 61% FG
18 PTS – 3 REB – 3 AST – 58% FG
37 PTS – 6 REB – 7 AST – 57% FG
26 PTS – 3 REB – 4 AST – 38% FGFeels like he's gone to another level as a scorer of late, he's shooting 55% from deep (5.1 3PA) in his past 10. pic.twitter.com/Px35GsaSpD
— Jack Kelly (@jack_kelly_313) February 9, 2024
This team still isn’t good, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel here.
29
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets haven’t been good, either, but Brandon Miller has emerged as a real scoring presence on the wing with long-term potential. If not for Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, this dude would be Rookie of the Year this season.
30
Washington Wizards
Yeah, man. There’s nothing good going on in D.C. right now. Fans are booing Jordan Poole. Bilal Coulibaly has hit a tough stretch lately. The All-Star break can’t come soon enough for this team.
