Welcome NBA Fans! What a trade deadline. This trade deadline included some big trades including one of the wildest trades in NBA history. Who would have thought that Luka Doncic would be traded to the Lakers on a random Saturday night? Other deals occurred such as De’Aaron Fox going to San Antonio and Jimmy Butler heading to the Bay Area and partnering up with Steph Curry. There were plenty of more that occurred.
With the trade deadline in the past, now it is time to prepare for the NBA All-Star Game and see how the teams play in their third of the season.
Let’s get right into it!
Next Week: February 15, 2025
Risers: Warriors +5, Nuggets, Lakers, Blazers +4
Fallers: Suns -5, Rockets, Clippers -5
NBA Power Rankings Week 16
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 41-9 (1)
The MVP race between Shai Gillgeous Alexander and Nikola Jokic has been tight, but the way Shai has played in recent weeks demonstrates a strong case for MVP, as he had 3 50-point games on an incredible 54% shooting. And the fact, that the Thunder are the best team in the NBA justifies his case.
Week Record: 4-0
2. Cleveland Cavaliers 42-10(2) -1
I agree with Charles Barkley that even though, the Cavs may have given up a lot for De’Andre Hunter, Cleveland is looking more like the top team to come out of East. Giving up draft capital and a couple of role players for one sixth-man-of-the-year candidate doesn’t hurt the Cavs because getting the right role players will determine how Cleveland performs come postseason time.
Week Record: 3-1
3. Denver Nuggets 33-19 (7) +4
People may be surprised at Michael Porter Jr.’s breakout performance. However, some may not know that MPJ was looked at to be a top 5 draft pick until back injuries became well known. MPJ is averaging 30 points for February on 49% shooting from 3 and the Nuggets are on a roll. Oh yeah and if the season were to end today, Jokic would be the 3rd player in history to average a triple-double.
Week Record: 4-0
4. Memphis Grizzlies 32-16 (5) +1
Ever since getting selected to his second all-star game, Jaren Jackson Jr. has been on a tear. JJJ has averaged 33 points and 5 rebounds on a crazy 51% shooting from 3. Now, Memphis has reclaimed their spot as the #2 seed and is 3 games ahead of Houston of the Southwest Division.
Week Record: 3-0
5. Boston Celtics 36-16 (4) -1
Is there much to say about the Celtics? A 3-1 week which included a loss to a Luka-less Dallas at home. It is easy to criticize that, however, Boston was able to get a big win against the Cavs who are now clearly the biggest threat to them repeating in the Eastern Conference.
Week Record: 3-1
6. New York Knicks 34-17 (6) –
The Knicks are currently on the pace of being a 55-win team and are currently one of the top 3 teams in the East. The Knicks didn’t have a lot of leverage at the deadline to make a big move which makes sense. Perhaps looking at the buyout market for someone who can score off the bench could help New York come playoff time.
Week Record: 2-1
7. Houston Rockets 32-19 (3) -4
This was a tough week for the young Rockets as 2 losses for Brooklyn and a winless week dropped Houston from 2nd in the West to 4th. In the East, that wouldn’t be a big deal, but a losing streak can set a team back. Dillion Brooks, why do you believe it’s okay to get under Anthony Edward’s skin? Edwards just dropped 41 on your team because of it!
Week Record: 0-4
8. Los Angeles Lakers 30-19 (12) +4
Two words. Luka Doncic. How the Lakers pulled the deal off was incredible. The Lakers now have their future secured by acquiring a top 3 player in the world when healthy. I don’t believe the Lakers are winning a title this year as they had to give up Anthony Davis in the process which makes their below-average defense even worse. Acquiring Mark Williams from Charlotte could help as he is a great lob threat and rim protector, but a glaring red flag would be his health as the big man has yet to play more than 45 games a season. LA is one of the clear winners from the deadline.
Week Record: 3-0
9. Indiana Pacers 29-21 (9) –
It was a bit of a strange week for the Pacers. A 1-point win vs Jazz was followed by a blowout loss against the Blazers and then a win against the Clippers. But let’s take a moment to realize that the Pacers would have home court in the first round of the playoffs if the season ended today. Also, Pascal Siakim will be going to his 3rd career all-star game next weekend.
Week Record: 2-1
10. Minnesota Timberwolves 29-23 (10) -1
Anthony Edwards has been on a tear. The man has averaged over 30 points per night since the calendar flipped to 2025. Also, Edwards posted 90 total in back-to-back nights and became the youngest player in NBA history to have 1000 career 3-pointers. And people do say he is a bad three-point shooter.
Week Record: 2-2
11. Milwaukee Bucks 27-23 (11) –
It was a tough week for the Bucks not only record-wise but from an emotional standpoint. The Bucks parted ways with Khris Middleton who was the #2 option on the 2021 title team and has been a part of the Fear the Deer for nearly 12 seasons. Kyle Kuzma can be a good scoring option for Milwaukee but will they actually be better?
Week Record: 1-3
12. Los Angeles Clippers 28-23 (8) -4
There weren’t any big-time names that came to the Clippers. However, the move for Bogdan Bogdanovic should be a solid move for the Clippers that has struggled offensively all year. Staying healthy will be key for them because Bogdanovic will provide shooting and floor spacing but has only played 24 games this season.
Week Record: 0-3
13. Dallas Mavericks 27-25 (14) +1
I can’t of anyone who had a worse week than Nico Harrison and Dallas Mavericks fans. Losing your 25-year-old superstar hurts, but the Mavericks didn’t get completely fleeced. Dallas now adds an interior presence in Anthony Davis who is a 10x all-star and top 75 player all time. Let’s look at it objectively, Dallas is still a pretty solid team. But their contention in the long term has been shut drastically which means the pressure to win now has increased dramatically.
Week Record: 1-2
14. Golden State Warriors 25-26 (19) +5
The Warriors getting Jimmy Butler made them one of the deadline’s biggest winners. Yes, Jimmy is 35 and has a strong personality. However, Golden State now has a 2nd scoring option who can create for themselves while reducing the offensive load for Steph Curry. Golden State was able to keep their young core in process which could be a win for the future.
Week Record: 1-2
15. Miami Heat 25-25 (17) +2
The Heat were able to deal Jimmy Butler which is a win in itself as the Butler-Heat relationship was broken beyond repair. However, it would have been a more clear win if Miami was able to get one of the Warriors’ young players to develop for the future. The keys to South Beach now belong to Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.
Week Record: 2-2
16. Detroit Pistons 26-26 (16) –
Getting Dennis Schroder and Josh Richardson will be solid moves for Detroit. Both guys were bringing scoring and shooting to a team that still relies heavily on Cade Cunningham to create for them. The Pistons just need to make to stay afloat and they should be in the playoffs.
Week Record: 2-2
17. Sacramento Kings 25-26 (15) -2
What are the Kings doing? The Kings traded their franchise point guard for Zach Lavine and his unattractive contract. Let’s not forget that Lavine played with DeMar DeRozan for the past 3 seasons and was for the most part redundant and a part of mediocre teams in Chicago. When you thought, Sacramento was heading in the right direction, they screw it up.
Week Record: 1-3
18. Phoenix Suns 26-25 (13) -5
Good news, the Suns were able to trade Jusuf Nurkic who was losing playing time and Phoenix was able to get a couple of role players back who may help them become a more balanced team. However, the boat may have been rocked after rumors of the idea of Kevin Durant being traded were proven to be true. This is a ridiculous idea considering the fact how bad the Suns have been without KD.
Week Record: 1-3
19. Portland Trail Blazers 23-29 (23) +4
No Portand stop winning now! Jokes aside, you know what’s crazy other than the Blazers undefeated week? Portland is currently 12-6 since the start of the year. The factor behind that 12-6 record has been their defense which has been ranked 3rd in defensive efficiency. At least, the squad as a whole has potential especially defensively.
Week Record: 4-0
20. Orlando Magic 25-28 (18) –2
The season is starting to slip for the Orlando Magic. Sure, they are still in the 8th slot, but this team is currently 5-14 since the start of 2025. Their offense has been the main issue for this slide. There are no strengths of this squad related to offense. The Magic are 3-19 when they fail to score 100 points.
Week Record: 1-3
21. San Antonio Spurs 22-27 (20) -1
The Spurs were one of the biggest winners of the trade deadline. San Antonio was able to acquire De’Aaron Fox who is one of the most underrated NBA players in the league to pair up with their 21-year-old superstar big man. It might be too late for San Antonio to avoid the play-in at best, but the Spurs now have a point guard for the foreseeable future.
Week Record: 1-3
22. Philadelphia 76ers 20-31 (21) -1
The road for the 76ers to get into the postseason without the play-in is practically slim to none at this point. The best approach for Philly is to take it one game at a time and get hot at the right time. Luckily, the 76ers are only 1.5 games behind Chicago for the final play-in spot which is doable especially when Chicago is likely to regress. The 76ers have to get something going now but at least they have the 3rd easiest remaining schedule going forward.
Week Record: 1-3
23. Atlanta Hawks 24-28 (24) +1
What has been a roller coaster season, it is hard to believe that the Hawks got better after the deadline. Losing 6th man of the year candidate De’Andre Hunter hurts as well as losing Bagdonivic and now Trae Young’s future with the team is “murky at best”.
Week Record: 2-2
24. Chicago Bulls 22-30 (22) -2
It was a bit of an underwhelming trade deadline for the Chicago Bulls. At least the Bulls were able to move Zach Lavine and his contract to control their first-round pick. Still, it’s frustrating to think there was a lack of commitment from Chicago’s front office to not only pick a direction but pick the right direction.
Week Record: 1-2
25. Brooklyn Nets 18-34 (28) +3
I don’t understand this team. This team looked like they embraced tanking one week and then they followed it up with not being very active in the trade deadline and beating the Houston Rockets twice. Maybe a buyout of Ben Simmons could help this get back to their main goal of tanking.
Week Record: 3-1
26. Toronto Raptors 16-36 (25) -1
I don’t like the Brandon Ingram trade for two reasons. One the Raptors are in no shape to compete for anything other than the lottery odds. The second reason I don’t like this trade is because Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes play the same position the same way. Yeah, what are the Raptors doing?
Week Record: 1-3
27. New Orleans Pelicans 12-37 (27) -2
The Pelicans have officially dealt with Brandon Ingram and I believe they are the winners of that deal. This will officially elevate Trey Murphy III who has been one of the league’s top breakout players this season. Time to continue with tanking!
Week Record: 2-1
28. Charlotte Hornets 13-36 (26) -2
If it weren’t for Miles Bridges’ game-winner against the Spurs, Charlotte would have had a winless week. The Hornets have made it clear that they are accepting another year of rebuilding and it will be important to see who develops outside of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. At least, they are average defensively compared to last season’s 29th defensive efficiency rate.
Week Record: 1-3
29. Utah Jazz 12-38 (29) –
Overall, It was disappointing that the Jazz didn’t deal with any of their veterans to go all in on the future. At least, they helped with setting one of the wildest trades in the past 25 years. Maybe, the vets get dealt this offseason but, certainly, Utah is not competing this year.
Week Record: 2-2
30. Washington Wizards 9-42 (30) –
Well, the Wizards went to work and flipped some of their veterans for more draft picks. I, however, don’t understand the purpose of picking up Marcus Smart or Khris Middleton. Both are good veteran pieces and could be viable, once their contract expires. But let’s be honest. The Wizards have a long way to go before being a free-agent destination spot. At least, they went 3-1 this week.
Week Record: 3-1
Main Image: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
