NBA Power Rankings 3 Weeks Before the 2026 Trade Deadline
We're now less than a month away from the NBA's 2025-26 trade deadline, and that means rumors are flying all over the league.
Those can't meaningfully impact the power rankings until they lead to actual deals, but they can influence how we project certain teams will look going forward.
It's at least an ingredient in the recipe we've used for this exercise for years.
Take a little subjectivity (the one that can touch on those rumors), team and individual numbers, recent performance and championship chances, and you can cook up the list we did below.
30. Washington Wizards (10-29)
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Previous Rank: 27
Net Rating: -11.3
Trae Young hasn't suited up for the Washington Wizards, but they're 0-3 since he officially joined the roster. And this week, we learned that he'll be sidelined (at least) through the All-Star break.
That trade isn't going to slow this tank down. In fact, depending on how many games Young actually plays, it might make it even more aggressive.
And if that results in Young being able to play with someone like Cameron Boozer or AJ Dybantsa next season, all the losing will have been worth it.
29. Sacramento Kings (11-30)
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Previous Rank: 30
Net Rating: -10.1
How about these Sacramento Kings?
After a couple weeks in the bottom spot of the power rankings, they've gotten a little more healthy and are suddenly on a three-game winning streak that includes victories over the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks.
Now, this run shouldn't trick ownership or the front office into thinking they should chase a play-in spot. The wiser course would be to get whatever assets they can for the veterans, but at the very least, these games should show potential suitors that those veterans still have something left to give.
DeMar DeRozan is averaging 19.1 points, and Russell Westbrook is putting up 14.8 points, 7.0 assists and 6.5 rebounds. Both could provide a real boost to some other team's bench.
Zach LaVine (20.0 points with a 39.6 three-point percentage) and Domantas Sabonis (17.2 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists), in the right situation, can still start for a winner.
Turning all of the above into picks and/or younger players would obviously serve the organization better than scratching and clawing for 10th place.
28. Indiana Pacers (9-32)
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Previous Rank: 29
Net Rating: -7.6
The Indiana Pacers ended their week with a loss to the Toronto Raptors, but they had a winning week and are suddenly 3-1 in their last four.
They're almost certainly too far gone to eventually threaten the play-in range, but this version of the Pacers looks a lot more like the team many expected without Tyrese Haliburton.
Indiana was obviously going to be worse without its best player, but Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard and others are good, competitive players. Rick Carlisle is one of the best coaches in the league. And most of the roster just experienced the NBA Finals.
In this little four-game stretch, Siakam is putting up 22.0 points and 9.8 rebounds, while Nembhard is adding 18.7 points and 8.0 assists. The most optimistic outlook for this team may have included that kind of production, but this campaign is a pretty vivid illustration of how important the offensive engine is.
Playing an entire season at that level without Hali may have been impossible.
27. Brooklyn Nets (11-27)
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Previous Rank: 26
Net Rating: -4.7
The Brooklyn Nets were winless this week, and Michael Porter Jr. is starting to show up in fresh trade rumors seemingly every day.
It makes sense that Brooklyn might want to move him, given its need for a good pick in this year's draft and MPJ's overwhelmingly positive impact on the team's point differential.
There should also be plenty of interest in him around the league, as he's averaging 25.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists, while shooting 40.1 percent from three.
If the Nets do indeed find a taker, the 2025-26 team will instantly be among the strongest contenders for a bottom-three record (and thus, the first overall pick).
26. Dallas Mavericks (16-26)
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Previous Rank: 25
Net Rating: -3.1
The Dallas Mavericks pummeled the Utah Jazz on Thursday, but it's tough to find big takeaways from a game without Cooper Flagg and Lauri Markkanen.
Dallas lost to Utah just one week earlier, is 4-7 in its last 11 and recently got some bad news on Anthony Davis. He may not need surgery on his injured hand, but he's going to be out for several weeks and could still be traded before the deadline.
With Flagg now nursing his own ankle injury, all signs are pointing to the Mavericks more aggressively chasing improved lottery odds down the stretch.
25. New Orleans Pelicans (10-33)
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Previous Rank: 28
Net Rating: -7.0
The New Orleans Pelicans reigned supreme this week... over the rest of the tanking teams. On Friday, they blew out the Washington Wizards (in Washington) and then led into these power rankings with a win over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.
And of course, none of this really affects New Orleans' long-term prospects, since they're sending their 2026 pick to the Atlanta Hawks (regardless of where it lands).
So, what exactly is the incentive for Pelicans fans to keep watching this team? Or, what's the source of hope?
Well, that depends on what they want from the future.
Those who want to add to the asset base have to be excited about Trey Murphy III's recent play. Over his last six games, Murphy is averaging 31.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He should be one of this February's most attractive trade candidates.
Those who are a little more optimistic about the current young core could point to Jeremiah Fears starting 41 of a possible 43 games and Derik Queen having 19 games with at least five assists.
24. Utah Jazz (14-27)
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Previous Rank: 24
Net Rating: -7.7
The Utah Jazz are one of the toughest teams in the league to analyze.
They're 4-12 since mid-December. The Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards are the only teams in the league with worse net ratings. But Lauri Markkanen is still playing like a fringe All-Star and Keyonte George's basic numbers make him look like one too.
They're seemingly capable of randomly beating just about anyone on any given night. Three of their wins during the aforementioned 16-game run are against the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers. And those last two were on the road.
Twenty-four feels high, given their season-long numbers, but their ability to surprise high-profile opponents has them above the tanking fray (for now).
23. Milwaukee Bucks (17-24)
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Previous Rank: 20
Net Rating: -3.2
What a week it was for the Milwaukee Bucks.
They went 1-3, with the losses coming to a Denver Nuggets team down Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray and two other starters, a Minnesota Timberwolves team without Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert and a San Antonio Spurs team that didn't have to play a single starter over 26 minutes.
The mess hit its crescendo against Minnesota, when Giannis, frustrated with the home fans booing the Bucks, actually booed back.
Now, despite a recent interview with The Athletic in which Giannis said he wouldn't explicitly ask for a trade (while also saying he might change his mind or his agent might talk to the team), the situation in Milwaukee again feels untenable.
In terms of trade assets, the front office has been operating in the red for years. There isn't a meaningful path to becoming a title contender in the short term. And the wisest move could be tipping off a full-fledged rebuild, one fueled by a Giannis trade return, before February's deadline.
22. Memphis Grizzlies (17-23)
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Previous Rank: 21
Net Rating: -1.5
The Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant era feels well and truly over. And now, Jaren Jackson Jr. is starting to show up in trade rumors too.
Losing Ja probably wouldn't do much for the Grizzlies' short-term prospects (they're dramatically better when he doesn't play), but a JJJ trade might.
And the sooner Memphis moves both, the sooner it can focus on stacking losses and improving its lottery odds.
Right now, the Grizzlies have a 3.2 percent chance of landing the top overall pick, but they're within striking distance of an 8.3 percent chance.
21. Charlotte Hornets (15-26)
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Previous Rank: 23
Net Rating: 0.1
The Charlotte Hornets are about as good as a 15-26 team could be.
Their season-long point differential suggests they should be much closer to .500. They're genuinely dominating opponents when all three of LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller are on the floor. And in the last two weeks, they have a 27-point win over the Oklahoma City Thunder(!), a 55-point win over the Utah Jazz and an 18-point win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
They're also young and incredibly inconsistent. In January, they have losses to the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks. And of course, they're still just 15-26.
The hard reality of their record keeps them in the bottom third of the power rankings for now, but it feels like a surge could be coming.
20. Chicago Bulls (19-21)
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Previous Rank: 22
Net Rating: -3.6
After sneaking by the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, the Chicago Bulls are now 4-4 during this Josh Giddey absence. And veteran big man Nikola Vučević is taking advantage of the extra responsibility.
In these eight games, Vuč is putting up 20.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists, while shooting 37.8 percent from deep.
And although he's already 35 years old, this stretch suggests he might still have a little something to offer another team in the trade market. He's on a manageable, $21.5 million expiring contract, can space the floor and is an underrated passer.
If the Bulls, who really shouldn't be concerned about snagging a play-in spot, can turn the last year of that deal into a younger player or some kind of draft capital, they should probably do it.
19. Atlanta Hawks (20-23)
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Previous Rank: 19
Net Rating: -0.9
It feels like the Atlanta Hawks may have another move to make before the deadline. They're reportedly still in the mix for Anthony Davis.
But even if they ride this season out with the roster that emerged from the Trae Young deal, they're likely in better shape than they were.
Atlanta's net rating was a whopping 9.5 points worse with Trae on the floor this season. CJ McCollum, meanwhile, has 57 points and is plus-19 in his three games as a Hawk.
18. Los Angeles Lakers (24-15)
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Previous Rank: 16
Net Rating: -0.8
If the Charlotte Hornets are on one end of the "their record is lying" spectrum, the Los Angeles Lakers are on the other.
Their numbers don't come anywhere near supporting a 24-15 record. They have a bottom-five defense. And while plenty of fans tout their 13-1 record in games that reach "clutch" time (defined by the league as the final five minutes of games within five points), they're dead-last in total minutes played in the clutch.
A team with Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves (barring trades) probably has a shot against just about anyone in a playoff series. Those three bring an absurd amount of offensive firepower.
But that shot is a long one—a mighty long one—with the roster in its current state. L.A. doesn't necessarily need to move Reaves (despite what LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, might say publicly), but it almost certainly has to add some defense and athleticism to be taken seriously.
17. Portland Trail Blazers (20-22)
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Previous Rank: 17
Net Rating: -2.5
Deni Avdija has a heck of an All-Star case, so he's understandably gotten the bulk of the attention among Portland Trail Blazers this season. But he's missed the last two games nursing some back soreness, and that's given his teammates a chance to step up.
In Thursday's win over the Atlanta Hawks, Shaedon Sharpe had 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting, Donovan Clingan had six offensive boards and Jrue Holiday (recently back from his own injury) had four assists and three steals in just 21 minutes.
This team is in the play-in mix, largely because of Avdija, but he hasn't gotten it there by himself.
16. Miami Heat (21-20)
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Previous Rank: 15
Net Rating: 1.2
After a 1-3 week that included a loss to the Indiana Pacers, the offensively challenged Miami Heat have to be thinking hard about those Ja Morant rumors (that heated up after news broke that he just bought a $3.2 million house in Miami).
Morant hasn't even played at a starter's level in Memphis this season. And he has a robust history of injuries and suspensions. But the Heat need a jolt. In a new environment, Ja might be able to provide it (sort of like Vince Carter after he left the Toronto Raptors).
With Morant's (theoretical) ability to break down perimeter defense and get to the paint, Miami's shooters (whichever ones would be left after a deal) would have precious extra time on their catches. Pick-and-rolls with Morant and Bam Adebayo would have plenty of potential too.
Ultimately, the Heat just need some star power. They're seriously lacking it since the Jimmy Butler trade. And while Morant isn't guaranteed to provide it, given the current state of this team, he's worth a risk.
15. Los Angeles Clippers (17-23)
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Previous Rank: 18
Net Rating: -0.9
The Los Angeles Clippers are now 11-2 since mid-December. And that's largely because they're getting, almost certainly, the best stretch of regular-season basketball Kawhi Leonard has played in a Los Angeles Clippers uniform.
In these 13 games, Leonard is averaging 32.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.6 steals and 1.0 blocks, while shooting 44.0 percent from three.
That's bonkers. And if it keeps up much longer, L.A. will go from a play-in threat to a play-in lock (a top-six finish may be out of reach after the 6-21 start).
14. Orlando Magic (23-18)
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Previous Rank: 12
Net Rating: 1.1
Franz Wagner came back just in time for the Orlando Magic's 118-111 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in he and his brother Mo Wagner's home country of Germany.
Having him on the floor went a long way toward opening it up for his No. 2, Paolo Banchero, who had 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting. And that dynamic has been present whenever Wagner has been available.
13. Golden State Warriors (23-19)
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Previous Rank: 14
Net Rating: 2.6
Last week's power rankings noted the Golden State Warriors' move up the standings was fueled by wins over uninspiring competition, and that trend hasn't really changed.
Seven of the Warriors' last eight wins have come against sub-.500 teams. And on Thursday, they beat a New York Knicks team that was without Jalen Brunson.
Still, wins are wins, and Golden State is 10-4 since December 20. A top-six finish is within striking distance, and if the Warriors can turn Jonathan Kuminga's recent trade request into a helpful player, their might still be a narrow path to contention.
12. Toronto Raptors (25-17)
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Previous Rank: 11
Net Rating: 1.8
Fan voting hasn't been kind to Scottie Barnes, but he has a heck of an All-Star case. And it got even stronger on Wednesday, when he totaled 26 points and 13 assists in a comfortable win over the Indiana Pacers.
Though he's third on the Toronto Raptors in points per game at 19.4, Barnes is posting a well-rounded 8.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals in the other basic categories. No one else in the league matches or exceeds all of those marks.
And his wide-ranging contributions have gone a long way toward the Raptors being in the East's top four. Their point differential is comfortably better when he's on the floor.
11. Philadelphia 76ers (22-17)
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Previous Rank: 10
Net Rating: 1.3
Joel Embiid has looked a little more like his old self of late, at least on the offensive end. Since December 12, Embiid has played in 12 of a possible 16 games and averaged 27.5 points in 32.5 minutes.
But Wednesday's blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers was a reminder that Tyrese Maxey is now the Philadelphia 76ers' most important player.
Maxey had 14 points on 5-of-16 shooting, moving Philadelphia to 7-11 when he plays and scores fewer than 30 points.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers (23-19)
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Previous Rank: 13
Net Rating: 2.7
They're still not close to the level at which they played most of last season. Losses like Monday's against the Utah Jazz are far too common. But the Cleveland Cavaliers are slowly starting to find a little rhythm, particularly on offense.
Cleveland is 6-3 in its last nine games. During that stretch, it's fifth in the league in points per 100 possessions. And probably most importantly, the regulars have all generally been available.
Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen have each missed one game in this run. Darius Garland and Evan Mobley have played in every contest. Mitchell is putting up 27.6 points. Mobley and Garland are at 16.7 and 19.8. All three are between 4.6 and 7.3 assists per game. And Allen is grabbing 9.4 boards.
The balance is starting to restore on the roster and the stat sheet, and wins are quietly following.
9. New York Knicks (25-16)
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Previous Rank: 8
Net Rating: 3.6
The New York Knicks desperately need to get back home.
They finished this four-game road trip with back-to-back losses to the Sacramento Kings (eek) and Golden State Warriors (more excusable, especially since Jalen Brunson missed that one with an ankle injury). And they're now 2-7 in their last nine games.
The biggest issue is, without question, a defense that ranks second to last in the league during this stretch.
Maybe that should've been predictable for a team with a starting five bookended by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, but hindsight isn't really going to fix the problem.
Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby are overtaxed on that end of the floor, and the Knicks might need to comb the trade market for a little help.
8. Phoenix Suns (24-17)
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Previous Rank: 9
Net Rating: 2.3
The Phoenix Suns ended their week with back-to-back losses, but those were both on the road and by single digits. In Thursday's game against the Detroit Pistons, they didn't have Devin Booker, and they still finished within a possession of the first-place team in the East.
Even in games they don't win, these Suns are demonstrating a stark difference between this team and last season's. The current roster is filled with fighters who will, at the very least, compete on the defensive end.
And contrary to what many may have expected from this group before the season, the offense is about a lot more than Booker. Phoenix has had seven different players get to 20 points in a game this season. And on Thursday, Grayson Allen led the way with 33 points (and a whopping 20 three-point attempts).
7. Houston Rockets (23-15)
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Previous Rank: 3
Net Rating: 6.5
Ending their week with a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder probably wouldn't be a big deal in most weeks, but the Houston Rockets got thumped by 20 at home. And they're now 2-5 in their last seven, with losses to the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings.
And in the nearly two weeks that Houston has played these seven games, it has a bottom-four offense.
For much of the season, the Rockets were able to paper over their lack of traditional playmaking by bludgeoning opponents on the offensive glass and getting some encouraging production from Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard. But neither of those up-and-comers are true point guards, and Houston might need more minutes with that kind of player on the floor.
Considering the fact that there's still no real return timeline for Fred VanVleet (who tore his ACL just before the season started), Houston might have to explore the trade market for some guard help.
6. San Antonio Spurs (28-13)
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Previous Rank: 6
Net Rating: 5.0
The San Antonio Spurs had a bit of a wakeup call in the middle of the week, losing to a pair of Western Conference contenders in the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder.
But they closed it out with a dominant win over the Milwaukee Bucks. And they got another stat-stuffing performance from Victor Wembanyama (22 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks) despite him playing just 22 minutes.
Since returning from extended injury absence in early December, Wemby hasn't played more than 28 minutes in a single game. And in his 15 appearances during this stretch, he's putting up 32.8 points, 13.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per 75 possessions, while shooting 41.1 percent from deep.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (27-14)
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Previous Rank: 5
Net Rating: 5.3
The Minnesota Timberwolves ended their week with back-to-back wins over the San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks. And in that last contest, they didn't have Rudy Gobert (due to a suspension) or Anthony Edwards (who was nursing a minor foot injury).
Without those two, Julius Randle had 29 points, eight rebounds and six assists, reminding us of his individual upside and ability to carry Minnesota in lineups without Edwards.
For the season, the Timberwolves are dominating opponents when Randle plays while Ant sits. And in those situations, Randle is putting up 29.5 points and 6.2 assists per 75 possessions, with a blistering 66.3 true shooting percentage.
4. Boston Celtics (25-15)
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Previous Rank: 4
Net Rating: 7.1
The Boston Celtics were 2-2 this week and had a disappointing loss to the Indiana Pacers, but they're still 20-8 since mid-November and are up to second in the league in net rating.
Before the season, it was impossible to imagine this group playing like a contender without Jayson Tatum, but it's reached that point thanks to dynamic offense that feels like it could get even better.
Boston's also second in the NBA in points per 100 possessions, and that's with Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, the Celtics' second- and third-leading scorers, shooting well-below-average three-point percentages.
You can probably forget Boston making more cost-cutting moves. In anticipation of Tatum's return, the Celtics might even be buyers at the deadline.
3. Denver Nuggets (28-13)
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Previous Rank: 7
Net Rating: 5.5
What started as a couple of feel-good results without the injured Nikola Jokić has become a potentially transformational development.
After winning on both nights of a road back-to-back to end this week, the Denver Nuggets are now 6-3 during Jokić's absence. And both Peyton Watson and Jamal Murray are proving capable of more playmaking responsibility when the three-time MVP returns.
In these nine games, Murray is putting up 28.7 points and 10.0 assists, while Watson is at 23.9 points and 3.1 assists. Both are shooting 40 percent from deep.
And the confidence they're generating now should help both in the non-Jokić minutes after the big man returns.
2. Detroit Pistons (29-10)
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Previous Rank: 2
Net Rating: 6.7
The Detroit Pistons had a light week against a couple of hot Western Conference teams, losing to the Los Angeles Clippers and then bouncing back for a win over the Phoenix Suns.
And since a two-game slate may not provide a ton of fodder for analysis, we'll take this opportunity to highlight Duncan Robinson (who led the team in scoring against both L.A. and Phoenix) and Jalen Duren (who may have an under-appreciated All-Star case).
On the year, Robinson is now averaging 11.9 points and shooting 39.8 percent from deep, while Duren is putting up 17.8 points and 10.9 rebounds for the top team in the East.
If the Pistons can use this trade season to juice the trio of Cade Cunningham, Duren and Robinson with someone like Michael Porter Jr. or Lauri Markkanen, they could very well represent their conference in the Finals.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (35-7)
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Previous Rank: 1
Net Rating: 13.0
So, that 6-6 stretch the Oklahoma City Thunder had in December and early January may have been exactly what we thought it was: insignificant.
After throttling the Houston Rockets (who entered the game with the league's second-best net rating), 111-91, OKC has now won five straight. Two days before thumping Houston, the Thunder exorcise the San Antonio Spurs demon, beating that team, 119-98.
Now that they have Isaiah Hartenstein back, OKC is back to dominating opponents on the defensive end. And any notions people may have had about their vulnerability suddenly seem far-fetched again.
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