The dust has settled from a whirlwind couple of weeks leading up to the NBA trade deadline, and now it’s time to take stock and figure out where everyone landed after the deal-a-thon we witnessed.
The top team overall is obvious, but there’s some intrigue below the Golden State Warriors. Are the Denver Nuggets really a team that could threaten to win the West? Which team in the East is best after the three biggest contenders one-upped each other on Wednesday and Thursday.
Here’s our breakdown now that we can re-focus on other things besides refreshing Twitter repeatedly to see if a trade was made.
1. Warriors -- No changes here. Yawn.
2. Bucks -- Another shooter (Nikola Mirotic) joins the already stacked Green Freak-led squad. This should be fun in the postseason.
3. Rockets -- That's right, they deserve this spot despite the fact that they're fifth in the West. Clint Capela will be back soon and a healthy Houston squad could make a run at the Warriors again in the playoffs.
4. Nuggets -- No deals at the deadline didn't mean much. They're a deep roster that no one seems to be talking about outside of Denver, and maybe that's exactly what they want.
5. Raptors -- Getting Marc Gasol might have put the already-talented Raps over the top.
6. Sixers -- Tobias Harris and some other moves gives Philly a ton of talent. Will they be able to put it all together for a run?
7. Thunder -- Paul George for MVP!
8. Celtics -- They were the biggest losers at the deadline as three other East teams got better. But they're still a threat.
9. Blazers -- One of the more complete squads in the league has found its groove.
10. Lakers -- Why put a team currently out of the top-eight in the West here? Because LeBron is back.
11. Nets -- Looking for an underrated, dangerous squad? This is it. And injured Caris LeVert coming back is their big deadline "acquisition."
12. Jazz -- Should they have gotten Mike Conley if the Grizzlies were willing to deal him? It's moot now. They're still a fun, competitive squad.
13. Spurs -- Coach Pop keeps this team humming around DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge. Amazing as always.
14. Kings -- A great young core AND Harrison Barnes! The ex-Maverick might be an inefficient scorer, but he's likely the player who helps the upstart Kings reach the postseason, which is overall a very good thing for the franchise.
15. Pacers -- They probably need to be lower on the list with Victor Oladipo out for the year, but they can still win some games.
16. Hornets -- The Kemba Walker farewell tour may have officially begun.
17. Pelicans -- Anthony Davis will play again, so they'll probably start winning again too.
18. Heat -- I don't know how they keep doing it. But somehow they look like a playoff team with Justise Winslow at the point.
19. Timberwolves -- Not much you can do at the deadline when you're stuck with big contracts like Jeff Teague ($19m player option), Gorgui Dieng (owed two more years at over $33m) and Andrew Wiggins (so much money).
20. Pistons -- Seems like they making a push to the playoffs with a quirky roster. Okay!
21. Mavericks -- The big winners of the trade deadline could have a core of Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis and a big free agent by the beginning of next year. Scary.
22. Magic -- The trade for Markelle Fultz isn't a move for this year, but Orlando isn't playing for this year.
23. Hawks -- The core is intact. Now they've got to develop it after they add another lottery pick this summer.
24. Clippers -- They're a playoff team for now and the trades they made set them up for a productive summer. If this was future power rankings, they might be in the top five.
25. Wizards -- Getting out from under Otto Porter's contract was a step in the right direction. But couldn't the floundering Wizards have done more wheeling and dealing?
26. Suns -- Can you imagine if Phoenix has Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton AND ZIon Williamson? That's what the franchise and its fans are dreaming about right now.
27. Grizzlies -- They should have traded Mike Conley for a full-on tank, but at least Jaren Jackson Jr. looks like the real deal.
28. Bulls -- A decent trade for Otto Porter, but it all changes if they keep losing and somehow hit the lottery.
29. Cavaliers -- Collin Sexton is playing better and Kevin Love will be back soon. That's about it!
30. Knicks -- Will the tank work? Nothing to watch here until July.
