.jpg?w=1280 "Power Rankings")
NBA Power Rankings Following Wild Trade Deadline Week
The 2026 NBA trade deadline is officially behind us.
And even if Giannis Antetokounmpo is still a Milwaukee Buck, there was more than enough turnover around the rest of the league to justify some pretty serious shakeups to the power rankings.
Below, you'll find all 30 teams sorted by our typical criteriaโteam and individual numbers, recent performance, championship chances and plenty of subjectiveโplus some consideration for moves made this week.
30. Sacramento Kings (12-40)
1 of 30
Previous Rank: 28
Net Rating: -9.8
The Sacramento Kings might be the single most frustrating franchise in the league.
Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis all survived the trade deadline. And beyond not finding a single taker for any of the veterans, they traded Dennis Schrรถder (their prized offseason acquisition) and Keon Ellis (perhaps the only real asset on the roster) for De'Andre Hunter.
It was another win-now move for a player who probably won't help the Kings win now.
Sacramento looks every bit as aimless as it did a week ago. And given what happened with the teams previously below them in the power rankings, the Kings have reclaimed 30th place.
29. Washington Wizards (14-36)
2 of 30
Previous Rank: 29
Net Rating: -10.3
The Washington Wizards took advantage of Anthony Davis' depressed trade value, gave up almost none of its young core and attached very little draft capital to the offer and landed a potentially dynamic running mate for Trae Young.
On paper, the games of those two complement each other perfectly. Young's pick-and-roll playmaking can make AD's life far easier on the offensive end. Davis' defense can cover for a lot of Young's flaws there.
And next season, when those two are surrounded by one of the top picks in the 2026 draft and older versions of Alex Sarr and Tre Johnson, the Wizards should have a very real shot to get back into the playoffs.
28. Indiana Pacers (13-38)
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Previous Rank: 27
Net Rating: -7.5
The Indiana Pacers made one of the best deals of deadline day when they swooped in and picked Ivica Zubac up from the Los Angeles Clippers.
The move shouldn't have too much of an impact on Indiana's pursuit of a top pick in the 2026 draft. The Pacers are far enough down the standings that they should stay in the mix through the end of the campaign. And though they're technically trading that 2026 first in this move, it stays in Indiana if it's in the top four.
That means the Pacers could conceivably come back to the 2026-27 campaign with Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Zubac and one of AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer or Darryn Peterson.
This is exactly how you do a "gap year."
27. Utah Jazz (16-36)
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Previous Rank: 26
Net Rating: -8.2
The Utah Jazz made one of the most shocking moves of deadline week when they pushed some chips in to help the Memphis Grizzlies accelerate their rebuild.
Especially if Lauri Markkanen can stay healthy, this acquisition of Jaren Jackson Jr. could seriously threaten Utah's lottery position. Rapid improvement from Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier could hurt too.
And winning too many games now doesn't just push Utah down the lottery board. It could cost it the pick altogether. If it ends up outside the top eight, it goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
That would be a disastrous turn of events. So, even though this roster just got a lot better, you can probably expect a fair bit of gamesmanship to keep driving those lottery odds up.
26. Brooklyn Nets (13-37)
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Previous Rank: 25
Net Rating: -7.9
The Brooklyn Nets didn't trade Michael Porter Jr. before the deadline, and they cut Cam Thomas right after it.
There's some evidence to suggest that sequence of events could make Brooklyn a lot more competitive. This season, when MPJ is on the floor without Thomas, the Nets are minus-1.5 points per 100 possessions.
That's not great, but it's a heck of a lot better than the season-long number and Thomas' individual net rating of minus-10.3.
Still, after making multiple offseason moves to regain control of their 2026 first-round pick, it's hard to imagine the organization doing anything to seriously jeopardize its lottery position. So, you can probably expect some rest nights and ultra-conservative approaches to any soreness that creeps up in MPJ.
Brooklyn might be a little better than it was last week, but it's still very much in the tank race.
25. New Orleans Pelicans (13-40)
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Previous Rank: 24
Net Rating: -6.3
It was a pretty quiet trade deadline for the New Orleans Pelicans. They sent Jose Alvarado to the New York Knicks for Dalen Terry and a couple second-round picks, but they held onto all the bigger names like Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III.
And now, the rest of the season can (and probably should) be about getting those two as much time on the floor with rookie Derik Queen as possible.
On the year, New Orleans is minus-8.4 points per 100 possessions when all three play together, but losing is good for lottery odds. And developing some continuity between those three now should serve the 2026-27 team well.
24. Memphis Grizzlies (20-29)
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Previous Rank: 22
Net Rating: -1.8
The Memphis Grizzlies couldn't find a taker for Ja Morant, but they sped up their rebuild anyway, trading Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz for a trade package that included three first-round picks.
Even with Morant still on the roster, it's probably safe to expect plenty more losing after the Jackson trade.
The Grizzlies lost their defensive anchor, can be ultra conservative with any injury timelines for Morant, and have plenty of young players to eat up minutes over the rest of the season.
23. Milwaukee Bucks (20-29)
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Previous Rank: 30
Net Rating: -3.9
The Milwaukee Bucks plummeted to the bottom of the power rankings in large part because of the assumption that Giannis Antetokounmpo would be traded before the deadline.
That obviously proved to be wrong. And while Giannis could miss more time with his calf injury, his online gloating about sticking around suggests he should be back at some point.
And as long as Antetokounmpo is a Buck, this is pretty obviously not the worst team in the league.
22. Dallas Mavericks (19-32)
9 of 30
Previous Rank: 23
Net Rating: -2.7
This week, the Dallas Mavericks went winless and traded Anthony Davis for a package of players who aren't likely to make a difference this season and picks that could prove awfully light on value.
But things are undoubtedly looking up for this organization, because it did the right thing in shedding AD and fully calibrating the future around Flagg.
His superstar potential has been evident since before his lone season at Duke, but it's really surfacing in the NBA now. Over his last four games, Flagg is averaging 37.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 threes and 1.8 blocks, while shooting 44.4 percent from deep.
21. Chicago Bulls (24-28)
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Previous Rank: 21
Net Rating: -3.5
No one was more active than the Chicago Bulls during deadline week.
Coby White, Nikola Vuฤeviฤ, Ayo Dosunmu (three of their top four scorers) and Kevin Huerter (seventh) are out. Guards are in. More specifically, Chicago picked up Jaden Ivey and Anfernee Simons. And, as if that wasn't enough, they signed Mac McClung too.
In the short term, the Bulls are probably worse than they were a week ago, but acquiring Ivey's restricted free-agent rights could prove incredibly valuable.
A young core with him, Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis probably won't win a ton more games this season, but has the potential to be competitive with a couple more years of development.
20. Portland Trail Blazers (23-28)
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Previous Rank: 16
Net Rating: -2.8
There may have been some angst for Portland Trail Blazers fans heading into trade deadline week. As soon as they crept to one game over .500, they promptly lost six straight, and the deadline could've been viewed as an opportunity to turn things around.
Those looking for dramatic moves may have been a little disappointed, but it's important to remember that this young roster is probably already ahead of schedule. And Vit Krejci could prove to be one of the better, sneakier acquisitions.
On the year, Krejci is averaging 8.9 points and 2.2 threes in 22.2 minutes, while shooting 41.6 percent from deep. And that kind of floor spacing around Deni Avdija's slashing could be a game-changer for Portland.
19. Golden State Warriors (28-24)
12 of 30
Previous Rank: 17
Net Rating: 2.3
When you account for the context of this being Stephen Curry's age-37 season, Jimmy Butler's ACL being ruptured and fans being sold on their team having a realistic shot at trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the deadline deal the Golden State Warriors actually made has to be one of the sadder ones in recent memory.
Sure, the Warriors have rid themselves of the drama of the Jonathan Kuminga situation. And the Kristaps Porziลฤฃis of a few years ago would've been a great fit in this system and alongside Curry.
But this isn't that Porziลฤฃis. Thanks to injuries and a diagnosis of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (or POTS), he very rarely plays. Butler won't play in another game until some time next season.
And Curry, who's currently out with an injury of his own, turns 38 in March.
It's over. It was probably over the moment Butler went down, but the lack of a Giannis miracle confirms it.
Even if Golden State plucks its way to some unexpected wins here and there, like the role players did against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, there's just no way to argue that this team is even a fringe contender now.
18. Los Angeles Clippers (23-27)
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Previous Rank: 11
Net Rating: -0.7
Perhaps the single most shocking development of deadline week was the Los Angeles Clippers' sudden about-face from one of the hottest teams in the league to one of the biggest sellers.
Despite winning 17 of their last 23 games, thanks in large part to the two-man game of James Harden and Ivica Zubac, both are now gone in deals that appear far more geared toward the future than the present.
And now, at least until Darius Garland (who came back in the Harden deal) is fully healthy, it's hard to imagine Kawhi Leonard and his cast of supporting players who are probably best suited for bench roles maintaining the pace L.A. was on before these trades.
17. Atlanta Hawks (26-27)
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Previous Rank: 20
Net Rating: -0.8
It's been an interesting few weeks for the Atlanta Hawks, who followed up their Trae Young trade by swapping Kristaps Porziลฤฃis for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield.
Arguably the two best players (at least on paper) coming into the season are gone. And this is now, quite clearly, Jalen Johnson's team.
It fits him too. Johnson is far bigger and more athletic than most primary playmakers, and Atlanta can surround with several players who are both bigger and more athletic than their positional peers.
It'll probably take a little time to iron out the right rotation with newcomers Kuminga, Hield and CJ McCollum, but a late-season surge up the standings feels like it's in play.
16. Los Angeles Lakers (31-19)
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Previous Rank: 19
Net Rating: -0.1
Austin Reaves is finally back, and the Los Angeles Lakers, predictably, look better for it.
In Thursday's win over the red-hot Philadelphia 76ers, with Luka Donฤiฤ limited to 16 minutes by leg soreness, Reaves had 35 points on 12-of-17 shooting in just 25 minutes.
Simply having another ball-handler (and one who's willing to move it a little earlier in possessions) to shake up the sometimes monotonous Luka-led attack will help.
And flanking both with one of the best outside shooters of all time will, too. In one of the sneakier good deals of deadline week, L.A. turned Gabe Vincent into Luke Kennard, who's shooting 49.7 percent from three this season.
15. Miami Heat (27-25)
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Previous Rank: 14
Net Rating: 1.6
The Miami Heat were seemingly in the mix for Giannis Antetokounmpo until deadline day, when news broke that he would remain with the Milwaukee Bucks (at least until this offseason).
Whether that impeded Miami's ability to explore other deals or not, they emerged from the week with the same roster they had before it.
And barring some stunning buyout pickup, that means Miami is likely to finish somewhere in the middle of the East, squeak into the playoffs and get blown out in the first round.
It may not be the most exciting outcome for Heat fans, but this team will surely be among the Giannis suitors who'll reach back out to Milwaukee as soon as this campaign's over.
14. Orlando Magic (26-24)
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Previous Rank: 15
Net Rating: -0.7
All the Orlando Magic did at the deadline was salary dump Tyus Jones, which probably doesn't do much in the short term. He's tied for 12th on the team in wins over replacement player and was shooting just 29.4 percent from deep.
But his absence, though it does make sense from a financial and team-building perspective (Orlando is now under the tax), creates a need for a little backcourt depth. The Magic could now be a sneaky player for buyout candidates like Chris Paul or Lonzo Ball.
But all of that could be moot if Paolo Banchero can stay on his current heater for the rest of the season.
After shooting just 23.8 percent from three over his first 23 games of this campaign, Banchero is averaging 23.9 points and 5.1 assists, while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from deep since New Year's Eve.
If this new, more efficient version sticks around beyond the return of Franz Wagner, the Magic could prove scary for Eastern Conference contenders again.
13. Charlotte Hornets (24-28)
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Previous Rank: 18
Net Rating: 2.1
The Charlotte Hornets might be the best story in the NBA right now.
They've won eight in a row, are 9-1 in their last 10 and are up to fifth in the Eastern Conference in average point differential.
And, as if they weren't hot enough already, this week, they added former North Carolina Tar Heel Coby White, who's averaged 19.5 points and shot 36.9 percent from deep over the last three seasons.
White has the ability to juice an offense that was already one of the most exciting in the league.
And even though Charlotte has one of the East's tougher remaining schedules, there's more than enough talent and firepower here to expect this trend to continue.
12. Philadelphia 76ers (29-22)
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Previous Rank: 13
Net Rating: 1.5
The Philadelphia 76ers ended their week with a tight loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, but they'd rattled off five straight wins before then.
And if you weren't already to ready to accept it, it's probably safe to say Joel Embiid is back (or at least as far back as he can be).
He still moves a little differently (particularly on defense) than the peak version of Embiid, but he hasn't missed two games in a row since mid-December. And over his last nine appearances, he's averaging 33.1 points, while shooting 53.4 percent from the field.
11. Toronto Raptors (31-22)
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Previous Rank: 12
Net Rating: 1.6
When you consider the fact that the Toronto Raptors won't require Chris Paul to report to the team following his trade there, it was a relatively quiet deadline for the Toronto Raptors.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, who was acquired in a separate deal, could provide some solid backup big minutes in the absence of Jakob Poeltl, but the rotation is generally the same as it was before this week.
And now that we're a few months into this season, it's fair to expect that rotation to keep Toronto in the hunt for homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
10. Phoenix Suns (31-21)
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Previous Rank: 9
Net Rating: 2.3
Reality may be setting in a bit for the upstart Phoenix Suns, who've been without Devin Booker since January 23.
They're 4-3 in their last seven and 7-6 in a 13-game stretch that extends back into when Booker was still available.
And despite adding two potential role players in Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony for a couple others who weren't even in the rotation (Nigel Hayes-Davis and Nick Richards), deadline week probably didn't make this team dramatically different.
Still, once Booker gets back, and with how hard Phoenix has played to this point in the season, the Suns should remain competitive, even if they're not title contenders.
That's still a pretty drastic overachievement relative to preseason expectations.
9. Houston Rockets (31-19)
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Previous Rank: 6
Net Rating: 5.1
Is it really possible that the Houston Rockets' offense was just propped up by Steven Adams' ability to generate extra possessions?
After losing at home to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, Houston is now 6-4 since Adams went down for the season with an ankle injury. It's 10-8 in all the games he's missed. And for the entire season, the Rockets' offensive rating and offensive rebounding percentage both dip comfortably without Adams on the floor.
Since Adams is out for the season and Houston didn't do anything dramatic to address its wilting offense at the deadline, the Rockets might have to scour the buyout market for a floor general who can bring a little more order than Amen Thompson or Reed Sheppard.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (31-21)
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Previous Rank: 8
Net Rating: 3.8
The Cleveland Cavaliers were already trending in the right direction before they made a couple win-now moves during deadline week that boosted their backcourt depth and gave them one of the most prolific playmakers of all time.
Swapping De'Andre Hunter for Dennis Schrรถder and Keon Ellis could go a long way toward replacing the production that Ty Jerome took with him this past offseason. Ellis can provide some defensive punch, too.
The biggest needle-mover, though, has to be the Darius Garland (and a second-round pick)-for-James Harden swap that gives Cleveland a better passer who's also far more consistently available.
One of Harden's most valuable skills is how much easier he makes the game for big men, and the Cavs boast both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. And he has plenty of experience playing with high-volume wings too, so the fit with Donovan Mitchell shouldn't take too long to figure out.
Cleveland had a slower start to the campaign than expected, but it looks like title contention is still on the table.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (32-20)
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Previous Rank: 7
Net Rating: 4.5
Another team that was seemingly in on Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to effectively pivot after it became clear that they wouldn't get him.
Not only did the T-Wolves find a taker for Mike Conley's salary, they added one of the most coveted combo guards on the market in Ayo Dosunmu in a subsequent trade.
Dosunmu may not replace all of what Minnesota lost when Nickeil Alexander-Walker signed with the Atlanta Hawks, but at 6'4", he can defend bigger guards. And he's shooting 45.1 percent from three this season.
A backcourt that already included Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo just got better.
6. Denver Nuggets (33-19)
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Previous Rank: 3
Net Rating: 3.9
The Denver Nuggets' only deadline trade was a salary dump of Hunter Tyson that got them under the luxury tax line. And the implications of that move (like avoiding the repeater tax or having a roster spot to chase a buyout candidate) may take a little time to set in.
The more pressing concern is the fact that Denver is 1-3 since Nikola Jokiฤ came back from injury.
Injuries to Aaron Gordon and Cameron Johnson are certainly a part of the struggle. Playing the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks on the road didn't help, but it's also fair to point out that Jokiฤ looks a little rusty.
He had 11 turnovers in the first two games of the current three-game losing streak. And he shot 1-of-13 from deep in the most recent one.
He's almost certain to get back to form in the coming weeks, but the Nuggets could look pretty rough until that happens.
5. New York Knicks (33-18)
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Previous Rank: 10
Net Rating: 6.0
On top of going 4-0 this week, through a couple of separate trades, the New York Knicks turned Guerschon Yabusele into New York native Jose Alvarado.
With his competitive nature and knack for getting backcourt steals, Alvarado is almost guaranteed to become a fan favorite.
And even though he's not a volume scorer himself, his energy could help a second unit that ranks 27th in the league in bench points per game.
4. Boston Celtics (33-18)
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Previous Rank: 5
Net Rating: 8.0
Despite the absence of Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics were cruising toward a high seed in the East. And after flipping Anfernee Simons for a starting-caliber center in Nikola Vuฤeviฤ, they might even have an outside shot at finishing first.
They're already second in the league in net rating, behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder. And if Jayson Tatum comes back before the playoffs, the Celtics could make a real push for a win total in the high 50s.
Even if they don't end up first, Boston has proved itself capable of pushing for another NBA Finals appearance.
3. San Antonio Spurs (35-16)
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Previous Rank: 4
Net Rating: 5.3
The San Antonio Spurs didn't need to do anything dramatic at the trade deadline. So, they didn't. And it looks like this young team is going to continue to pile up wins for the rest of the season.
After beating the Dallas Mavericks on the road on Thursday, San Antonio is 8-3 in its last 11, with their superstar looking fully healthy again.
Now off his minutes restriction, Wembanyama has averaged 24.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 2.5 threes (still in just 29.3 minutes), while shooting 38.9 percent from deep.
2. Detroit Pistons (37-13)
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Previous Rank: 2
Net Rating: 7.4
The Detroit Pistons dodged Jaden Ivey's restricted free agency and sent him to the Chicago Bulls in a deal that landed them Kevin Huerter.
And while the move was probably a downgrade in terms of raw talent, the cap mechanics and Huerter's shooting make it pretty easy to understand.
Huerter hasn't shot the ball well the last two seasons, but prior to then, he had a 38.2 career three-point percentage. And Detroit was wise to give another dangerous catch-and-shoot threat to Cade Cunningham.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (40-12)
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Previous Rank: 1
Net Rating: 12.1
The Oklahoma City Thunder, who obviously weren't in dire need of much more help, made one of the sharpest moves of deadline week when they snagged Jared McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers.
With their massive trove of draft assets, OKC was never going to be able to roster all the players who might've come from those picks. A consolidation trade was inevitable, and this should be a good one.
If there's a team and developmental staff that can help McCain rediscover the magic that made him look like a Rookie of the Year frontrunner last season, it's this one.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
