NBA Power Rankings: Where Every Team Stands with Trade Deadline 2 Weeks Away
It's officially trade season in the NBA. And with each passing week, it feels more likely a Jimmy Butler deal might just be the tip of an iceberg.
Contenders have already emerged, and those on a tier below them likely covet the helpful players on tanking teams.
In the next couple of weeks, we'll get a better idea of who's truly chasing a 2025 championship (as well as who's all-in on the 2025 draft).
In the meantime, we have another batch of the weekly power rankings. As usual, franchises are sorted by team and individual numbers, recent performance, championship chances (which certainly factors in some of the potential trades) and plenty of subjectivity.
30. Washington Wizards (6-37)
1 of 31
Previous Ranking: 30
Net Rating: -13.8
Each week, it gets tougher to imagine anyone taking the 30th spot in this exercise from the Washington Wizards.
This week, they went 0-4. They've now dropped 12 straight. And with Jordan Poole averaging 21.4 points and shooting 39.9 percent from deep, it's reasonable to think some playoff team might be willing to take his contract off Washington's hands, making the Wizards even worse.
We may be witnessing a generational tanking season here.
29. Utah Jazz (10-32)
2 of 31
Previous Ranking: 29
Net Rating: -6.8
The Utah Jazz figure to be a factor (mostly for other teams) for a third straight trade deadline.
Utah is in the hunt for the league's worst record and has at least a few veterans who could be helpful on winning teams.
After this week's action, Collin Sexton is averaging 18.3 points, 4.1 assists and 1.9 threes while shooting 41.3 percent from deep. John Collins is at 18.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 threes with a career-high 44.6 three-point percentage.
28. Charlotte Hornets (11-29)
3 of 31
Previous Ranking: 28
Net Rating: -5.4
The losses keep rolling in for the Charlotte Hornets, which is more than fine. They have to stay in the lottery to keep their first-round pick, and they're closer to the worst record in the league than they are to a playoff spot.
Even better, they're getting real signs of upside from their young core. The obvious player to point to there is LaMelo Ball, who's averaging 29.0 points, 7.5 assists and 4.2 threes. But center Mark Williams is starting to look like the perfect pick-and-roll partner for Charlotte's creative playmaker.
Williams played in his 18th game of the season on Wednesday, when he went for a career-high 38 points in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. On the season, the big man is now averaging 23.5 points, 14.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 blocks per 75 possessions.
27. Brooklyn Nets (14-31)
4 of 31
Previous Ranking: 27
Net Rating: -7.6
The Brooklyn Nets are leaning into their rebuild about as hard as one can imagine.
After trading away Dorian Finney-Smith and Dennis Schröder earlier this season, the Nets are now 1-10 in their last 11 games. Their lone win during that stretch came against another rebuilding team, the Portland Trail Blazers.
Eight of their top nine in total minutes played in that span are Noah Clowney, Tyrese Martin, Jalen Wilson, Keon Johnson, Tosan Evbuomwan, Ziaire Williams, Day'Ron Sharpe and Reece Beekman. Of that group, Williams' $6.1 million salary is the highest. That ranks 223rd in the league.
26. Toronto Raptors (12-32)
5 of 31
Previous Ranking: 25
Net Rating: -6.6
The Toronto Raptors had a nice little showcase game from their trade candida...'er, veterans...on Thursday, when they beat the Atlanta Hawks (in Atlanta), 122-119.
Kelly Olynyk (11 points, five assists and a three in 14 minutes), Chris Boucher (17 points and two threes in 18 minutes) and Bruce Brown (18 points and four assists in 20 minutes) all produced off the bench. And the Raptors should be motivated to move them ahead of the trade deadline.
Toronto is very much in the hunt for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, and every loss helps.
25. Portland Trail Blazers (16-28)
6 of 31
Previous Ranking: 26
Net Rating: -7.5
Somebody break up the Portland Trail Blazers! No, seriously. Portland should probably be angling for losses and improved lottery odds, but they won their third straight game on Thursday. And a number of veterans are now healthy and in the rotation.
In Thursday's win over the Orlando Magic, Anfernee Simons had 21 points and made 3-of-6 three-point attempts. Robert Williams III had 12 boards and four blocks in just 24 minutes. And Jerami Grant had four assists and three blocks.
Portland should be open to moving all three, and that includes the 25-year-old Simons. Right when Scoot Henderson appeared to finally be having his NBA moment—he'd averaged 22.4 points and 7.8 assists in the Blazers' five games prior to Thursday—he was moved back to the bench, in part to accommodate Simons' return from injury.
24. Philadelphia 76ers (15-27)
7 of 31
Previous Ranking: 23
Net Rating: -5.0
If the wheels haven't already fallen off, they're at least getting wobbly for the Philadelphia 76ers.
They ended their week on Tuesday with a 144-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets. That extended their current losing streak to seven games. They've dropped 10 of their last 12. Joel Embiid hasn't played since Jan. 4 due to ankle and knee injuries.
Even in the softer Eastern Conference, where the 10th-place team is currently six games below .500, Philadelphia is still outside of the play-in picture. If Embiid is going to remain a part-time player, it's going to be hard for the Sixers to break in.
Even if they do, and then they escape the play-in, they'd have to face a team with far more continuity (like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics or New York Knicks) in the first round.
At this point, given that they owe their 2025 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder if it falls outside of the top six, it might make more sense for Philly to reboot the process and tank this season.
23. New Orleans Pelicans (12-32)
8 of 31
Previous Ranking: 24
Net Rating: -7.9
The New Orleans Pelicans still have the third-worst net rating in the league, but they've won four straight games and seven of their last 10. Unfortunately, that turnaround may be happening too late since they're in the Western Conference.
Even after this run, the Pelicans are 10 games back of 10th place in the West. Basketball Reference's Playoff Probabilities Report still gives them a 100 percent chance of missing the postseason.
Which begs the question: Why even try?
Other than just good, old-fashioned competitiveness, there aren't many reasons for the Pelicans to win games right now. They should be angling to improve their lottery odds, even if that means trading a veteran who's driving the winning.
During this 10-game stretch, McCollum is averaging 24.4 points, 4.1 threes and 3.2 assists while shooting 42.7 percent from deep. Over the entire season, the Pelicans are plus-2.9 points per 100 possessions when McCollum shares the floor with Zion Williamson.
22. Chicago Bulls (19-26)
9 of 31
Previous Ranking: 22
Net Rating: -3.3
The Chicago Bulls are approaching the trade deadline as one of the league's more mysterious potential dealers.
For years, it's felt like a full-scale teardown might be justified. And this season, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević are both playing well enough to warrant real value for the Bulls in return.
The team is seven games below .500 and just got blown out by the then sub-.500 Golden State Warriors on Thursday, but LaVine is averaging 24.0 points and 3.2 threes, while shooting 45.1 percent from deep. Vučević is at 20.1 points with a 41.2 three-point percentage.
The Bulls are nowhere near contention, and they have two veterans who can help teams who are. This feels like the February Chicago finally has to look to the future.
21. Phoenix Suns (22-21)
10 of 31
Previous Ranking: 21
Net Rating: -1.1
This week, the Phoenix Suns traded a 2031 unprotected first-round pick to the Utah Jazz for three conditional first-rounders, which seemingly increased the likelihood of their landing Jimmy Butler in a trade. That talk is only going to intensify between now and the Feb. 6 trade deadline unless some other team swoops in for him.
In the meantime, the Suns have gotten some breaks from the schedule over the last few weeks. Four of their last seven games came against the rebuilding Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets, but only one of those victories was by double-digits.
In that game against Brooklyn, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant were the only Suns who scored at least 10 points. This team is in desperate need of a trade.
20. Golden State Warriors (22-22)
11 of 31
Previous Ranking: 19
Net Rating: +0.1
The Golden State Warriors led the Sacramento Kings by 18 on Wednesday, but their collapse eventually ended in a loss that bumped their record below .500.
The silver lining is that the embarrassment may have led to a new source of optimism.
Following that game, in which rookie Quinten Post hit a three, Steve Kerr told the media he wanted to get the big man more playing time.
One night later, Post played 20 minutes off the bench, had 20 points and went 5-of-10 from deep. And his sudden emergence could help the Warriors in a couple of different ways.
If Golden State is hesitant to mortgage its future for a win-now deal, as Stephen Curry has suggested it should be, Post's outside shooting could help space the floor for the team's wings and guards. But if he has a couple more games like this, he might play his way into being an interesting part of a trade package that helps the Warriors go from fringe playoff team to fringe contender.
19. Miami Heat (21-22)
12 of 31
Previous Ranking: 15
Net Rating: +0.1
If it wasn't already, the events of this week may have pushed the Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler scenario into ridiculous territory.
He's already served a seven-game suspension for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team." And after missing a team flight ahead of Thursday's matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks, he's been forcibly removed from the rotation again.
Miami probably doesn't want to rush a Butler trade and get less back than he's worth, but this situation is begging for a resolution. The drama, and simply not having Butler available to play, is clearly taking a toll.
Miami was blown out by the Bucks and has now lost five of its last six.
18. San Antonio Spurs (20-22)
13 of 31
Previous Ranking: 18
Net Rating: -1.0
The San Antonio Spurs were in a bit of a tailspin prior to a matchup with the Indiana Pacers in Victor Wembanyama's home country of France on Thursday.
They'd dropped six out of seven games prior to the overseas trip, but three of those losses came against top-four teams in the West (one against the Denver Nuggets and two against the Memphis Grizzlies). The other three were on the road.
Assuming they needed to remind everyone of their upside, they did so in Paris, beating the surging Indiana Pacers 140-110. Wembanyama had 30 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and five blocks.
On nights like that (which Wemby has proved capable of against just about anyone), San Antonio can compete with any team in the league. And although they're just outside the play-in picture now, the instability of the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns suggests the Spurs are still very much in the mix.
17. Atlanta Hawks (22-22)
14 of 31
Previous Ranking: 17
Net Rating: -2.2
Every time it seems like the Atlanta Hawks might be finding some kind of teamwide groove, they seemingly go on a little losing streak to reset expectations.
They started this week with a road victory over the Boston Celtics that pushed them to three games over .500, but they followed that up with three straight losses.
And while Trae Young has been in the groove as a distributor all season (he's averaging a league-best 11.7 assists), his struggles as a shooter are part of why the team has been so inconsistent.
After going 7-of-19 from the field and 2-of-8 from three in Thursday's loss to the rebuilding Toronto Raptors, Young is now shooting 40.1 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from deep on the season. Both marks are below league averages.
16. Orlando Magic (23-23)
15 of 31
Previous Ranking: 16
Net Rating: -0.8
Paolo Banchero was 1-of-14 from the field in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. And the Orlando Magic are now 1-6 since his return from injury.
Adding to the concern, for the entire season, Orlando is plus-8.7 points per 100 possessions when Franz Wagner plays without Banchero and minus-3.5 when Banchero is without Franz. And the spread gets even worse when you isolate the minutes without Jalen Suggs, too.
Banchero may still be the future face of the franchise, and there's no real reason to pit the two forwards against each other. Both are under contract for the foreseeable future. But Banchero's shot selection, ball security and defense all have to get better to reach his ceiling.
15. Detroit Pistons (23-21)
16 of 31
Previous Ranking: 20
Net Rating: -0.7
Cade Cunningham deserves a lot of the credit for the Detroit Pistons' incredible turnaround from a 14-win team in 2023-24 to an above-.500 squad this season. After going for 29 points and 11 assists in Wednesday's win over the Atlanta Hawks, Cunningham is averaging 24.6 points and 9.4 assists per game on the season.
There's still room to grow, though. To maintain their spot in the East's top six, the Pistons may need Cunningham to reduce the number of possessions he's giving away.
He also had 10 turnovers on Wednesday, bringing his average to a career-high 4.7. His effective field-goal percentage is still well below-average, too.
Detroit already winning games in spite of Cunningham's shrinking shortcomings should also be encouraging.
14. Los Angeles Lakers (24-18)
17 of 31
Previous Ranking: 13
Net Rating: -1.6
The Los Angeles Lakers slipping one spot probably doesn't feel fair, but sacrifices had to be made to accommodate a surge from the Sacramento Kings.
And even after blowing out the Boston Celtics and moving to six games above .500, the Lakers have a negative net rating and are soundly losing LeBron James' minutes.
Still, they're in the top half of the rankings and have the pieces necessary to make a win-now move (something LeBron and Anthony Davis reportedly want).
So, even if this particular write-up sounds a little pessimistic, it's not like it's time to panic for the Lakers.
They have two of this season's 25- or 30-best players and are trending toward a playoff spot in the league's tougher conference.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves (23-21)
18 of 31
Previous Ranking: 11
Net Rating: +1.8
Their net rating suggests they should be a bit better, but the Minnesota Timberwolves have spent the bulk of this season as the league's picture of mediocrity. In fact, they've been within three games of a .500 record for the entirety of this campaign.
The reason for that may be the lack of a superstar leap that so many expected from Anthony Edwards. His basic numbers (26.2 points, 4.3 assists and 4.2 threes per game) are impressive, but he's not really elevating teammates, and advanced numbers don't grade him much higher than a top-30 performer in 2024-25.
A renewed commitment to defense and a better assist-to-turnover ratio—he's averaging a career-high 3.4 giveaways per game—might help Minnesota finally get some traction.
12. Indiana Pacers (24-20)
19 of 31
Previous Ranking: 12
Net Rating: -0.3
The Indiana Pacers were blown out by the San Antonio Spurs in a showcase game in France on Thursday, but that shouldn't be cause for much concern.
Generally speaking, things are trending in the right direction.
Indiana had won eight of nine prior to that meeting with the Spurs. And the turnaround is the product of a deep, balanced offensive attack.
Since January 2, when a six-game winning streak started, Pascal Siakam, Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner and Bennedict Mathurin have all averaged over 15 points. Four more rotation players are over seven points per game in that stretch. And Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell are. at 9.2, 5.6 and 4.9 assists, respectively.
11. Dallas Mavericks (24-21)
20 of 31
Previous Ranking: 9
Net Rating: +3.1
Things went from bad to worse for the reigning Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks this week.
They're 5-11 in their last 16 games. Luka Dončić has appeared in only 22 of their 45 games. And now, up-and-coming center Dereck Lively II is going to be out for a few months.
But Kyrie Irving and this merry band of three-and-D role players have done what they can to keep the team afloat, Luka's return shouldn't be too far off and the team just upset the Oklahoma City Thunder (in OKC).
Even with all the adversity in this first half of the season, Dallas is very much in the mix for a top-six finish in the West.
10. Sacramento Kings (23-21)
21 of 31
Previous Ranking: 14
Net Rating: +2.9
They ended their week with a loss to the red-hot Denver Nuggets on Thursday, but the Sacramento Kings had won 10 of 11 prior to that. And they're now very much back in the mix for a top-six seed in the West.
And during that stretch, their starting five was genuinely dominant.
In those 11 games, DeMar DeRozan (24.1 points), De'Aaron Fox (22.8), Malik Monk (22.3) and Domantas Sabonis (20.9) were all over 20 points per game. Monk (7.5 assists), Sabonis (6.5) and Fox (6.1) all averaged over six assists. And perhaps most encouraging, Keegan Murray, who's struggled with his outside shot for most of the season, hit 38.6 percent of his threes.
It's not realistic to expect that kind of production from the starters for the rest of the season. Monk and Fox were both held in check by Denver on Thursday. But if they can collectively be near that level, they'll be one of the tougher outs in the conference.
9. Los Angeles Clippers (25-19)
22 of 31
Previous Ranking: 10
Net Rating: +3.3
The Los Angeles Clippers nipped a little losing streak in the bud at two games, when they blew the Washington Wizards out on Thursday.
And in that game, James Harden had 17 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds, while Kawhi Leonard was plus-23 in 24 minutes.
Seeing the latter in action, even if there is some rust (he had more shots than points on Thursday) makes it pretty easy to buy this team as a potential spoiler in the West.
In the weeks and months leading up to Kawhi's return, Harden showed he can still be a bona fide offensive engine. Norman Powell has more than made up for the loss of Paul George's scoring. And the rest of the defense-heavy supporting cast looks to fit the stars well.
As Leonard gets up to speed, the Clippers are going to become one of the league's toughest nightly matchups.
8. Milwaukee Bucks (25-17)
23 of 31
Previous Ranking: 8
Net Rating: +3.3
Seven of the victories came against teams that are currently .500 or worse, but the Milwaukee Bucks have won eight of their last nine, and stretches like this against the softer portions of a schedule can be good for establishing a rhythm.
That's been especially true for a second unit that struggled for much of the early portion of the season.
In this stretch, Khris Middleton (12.5 points and 5.2 assists in 22.9 minutes), Gary Trent Jr. (11.8 points, 3.2 threes and a 61.3 three-point percentage), Bobby Portis (11.4 points and 7.6 rebounds) and AJ Green (7.0 points and 1.9 threes, with a 40.6 three-point percentage) are all providing very real boosts off the bench.
7. New York Knicks (29-16)
24 of 31
Previous Ranking: 6
Net Rating: +6.0
There are reasonable gripes about Tom Thibodeau's rotations, the size of the trade package to land Mikal Bridges and the size and length of OG Anunoby's new contract.
The New York Knicks have each of the top three, four of the top five and five of the top 23 players in total minutes this season. The Bridges deal cost New York four unprotected first-round picks, a first-round pick swap and one protected first-rounder. And Anunoby is under contract through 2028-29, when he has a $48.4 million player option.
But New York also made two of the shrewder moves in recent history by landing Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, who now make up one of the league's best duos.
Brunson is averaging 26.0 points, 7.3 assists and 2.3 threes while shooting 39.1 percent from deep. KAT is at 25.1 points, a career-high 13.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.1 threes with a 43.3 three-point percentage.
When both are on the floor, the Knicks are outscoring opponents by 8.8 points per 100 possessions.
6. Denver Nuggets (28-16)
25 of 31
Previous Ranking: 7
Net Rating: +5.4
Nikola Jokić delivered another superlative-defying performance to close out the week on Thursday, when he had 35 points, 22 rebounds, 17 assists, two blocks and a preposterous, near-full-court heave in a win over the Sacramento Kings.
It was his fifth straight triple-double, and he reached each one before the start of the fourth quarter.
Plenty in the media and around the internet seem to think a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander MVP is a foregone conclusion (he's still a huge favorite in the betting market), but Jokić is averaging a 30-point triple-double and is on track to break his own single-season record for box plus/minus ("...a basketball box score-based metric that estimates a basketball player's contribution to the team when that player is on the court.").
This might literally be the best (or at least most productive) individual season in NBA history. That much of the viewing public has sort of become numb to his dominance is another testament to it.
5. Memphis Grizzlies (29-15)
26 of 31
Previous Ranking: 5
Net Rating: +7.5
Given their record in the loaded Western Conference, the Memphis Grizzlies almost have to have a 2025 All-Star. However, it probably shouldn't be Ja Morant.
The electrifying point guard played in just his 26th game of the season on Wednesday. And for the first time in his career, he isn't the Grizzlies leading scorer.
At least for now, that distinction goes to Jaren Jackson Jr., who's putting up a career-high 22.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.7 threes, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 steals on the year.
When JJJ's on the floor, Memphis has a point differential around that of a 66-win team.
4. Houston Rockets (29-14)
27 of 31
Previous Ranking: 4
Net Rating: +6.0
Now that we're more than halfway through the season, it's safe to assume that the Houston Rockets will not only make the playoffs for the first time since 2020, but they'll probably finish in the West's top four.
While the recently extended Alperen Şengün and Jalen Green deserve a lot of the credit for that, Amen Thompson is starting to make a name for himself as well.
It starts on the defensive end with Thompson, where he ranks in the 98th percentile in defensive estimated plus-minus. His offense is now coming along, too.
Over his last eight games, Thompson is averaging 17.0 points on 12.1 shots while also handing out 3.8 assists.
3. Boston Celtics (31-14)
28 of 31
Previous Ranking: 3
Net Rating: +8.9
It's officially fair to be at least a little concerned about the Boston Celtics.
They ended their week by squeaking by a Los Angeles Clippers squad that was without both James Harden and Kawhi Leonard on Wednesday and getting blown out by the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.
They're now 5-5 in their last 10 and 10-9 in their last 19.
Of course, this may just be a classic case of a reigning champion heading through the regular season in cruise control, but the team three-point percentage being over two points lower than it was in 2023-24 is notable. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday both dropping a little closer to their career norms from deep could mean something, too.
It'll still be hard to pick any opponent over Boston in a playoff series, but four cold shooting nights out of seven feels more possible than it did a few weeks ago.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (36-7)
29 of 31
Previous Ranking: 2
Net Rating: +9.8
The Cleveland Cavaliers have looked a bit closer to mortal of late.
They ended last week's slate with a blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and then dropped a one-point game to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. They're now 3-3 in their last six.
However, Evan Mobley has missed the last three games with a calf strain. When he's on the floor, Cleveland has a point differential around that of a 67-win team.
When the Cavs are healthy, they can go toe to toe with anyone in the league this season.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (36-8)
30 of 31
Previous Ranking: 1
Net Rating: +12.3
It's been hard to find weaknesses for the Oklahoma City Thunder all season, but P.J. Washington and the Dallas Mavericks are undoubtedly among them.
Dallas eliminated OKC from the 2024 playoffs. And after beating the Thunder on Thursday—in a game in which Washington stuffed the stat sheet with 22 points, 19 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks—the Mavs took the season series, 3-1.
But the overall outlook remains incredibly bright for OKC, which is dominating on just about every other night and got a career-high 54 from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.
Stat of the Week
31 of 31
Over the course of the NBA's nearly eight-decade-long history, just 30 teams have averaged at least 120 points per game for a season.
Only 14 of those have come in the three-point era, but through games played on Thursday, three of those are from this season.
The Memphis Grizzlies (123.3), Cleveland Cavaliers (121.7) and Denver Nuggets (121.0) are all absolutely cooking.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "EDGE-Rush Duos Power Rankings 📊")
.jpg?w=600 "Mendoza Impressing at Minicamp")
