NBA Team Rankings: Trade Deadline Looming

The big headline of this week is Kyrie Irving being traded to Dallas. How will he and Luka Doncic fit together? Will the Nets be able to make another move before the deadline after losing Kyrie and getting Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith in return? I’m also very interested to see if some of the teams in ‘win now’ mode like Memphis, New Orleans, Cleveland, and Phoenix are able to add a piece to potentially put them over the top. Which team will make the biggest splash? We’ll have all the answers to these questions come Thursday.

As always, the way I create these rankings is by answering the question: if the playoffs started today, who’s going to win the championship? I answer that question and then continue the rankings by comparing teams until I get to the last one.

1. Boston Celtics (37-16) – last week: 1st

The Celtics beat the Nets in dominant fashion on Wednesday 139-96. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each made seven threes in the win.

2. Milwaukee Bucks (36-17) – last week: 4th

Milwaukee has won seven in a row since Khris Middleton has returned from injury. They have eased him back in and he finished with 24 points in only 20 minutes in their latest win over Miami.

3. Denver Nuggets (37-17) – last week: 3rd

One of the biggest needs for Denver as the trade deadline approaches is a backup big that could step in when Nikola Jokic needs a rest. They lost their latest game to the Timberwolves by thirty points in which Jokic did not play.

4. Philadelphia 76ers (34-18) – last week: 2nd

The 76ers went 2-2 on the week with the losses coming against the Magic and the Knicks. In their loss to the Knicks, Joel Embiid had 31 points and 14 rebounds.

5. Memphis Grizzlies (32-21) – last week: 5th

Memphis has lost three in a row with Ja Morant missing this latest loss to the Raptors and Dillon Brooks being suspended after the incident in the Cleveland game on Thursday. In the loss to Toronto, Desmond Bane had 26 points.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers (33-22) – last week: 7th

Cleveland got two big wins over Memphis and Indiana this week. Darius Garland controlled most of the game and finished with 32 points and 11 assists against Memphis.

7. Los Angeles Clippers (30-26) – last week: 8th

In their last outing, the Clippers got a hard fought victory over the Knicks 134-128 in overtime. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George combined for 65 points.

8. Miami Heat (29-25) – last week: 9th

Miami was tested with three road games against Cleveland, New York, and Milwaukee this week. The only game they won was a nailbiter over Cleveland 100-97 in which Jimmy Butler finished with 23 points.

9. Sacramento Kings (29-23) – last week: 10th

The Kings struggled in their latest game against the Pelicans in the absence of De’Aaron Fox. Malik Monk had 16 points off the bench as they got routed 136-104.

10. Dallas Mavericks (28-26) – last week: 12th

The addition of Kyrie Irving does raise Dallas’ ceiling, particularly offensively. However, this move by Dallas will likely hurt their defense as Dorian Finney-Smith was an integral part of what made them so successful in the playoffs last year.

11. New York Knicks (29-26) – last week: 11th

The Knicks just got a huge 108-97 win over the 76ers. Julius Randle led the way in the win with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists.

12. New Orleans Pelicans (28-27) – last week: 15th

New Orleans got a great 131-126 win over the Lakers on Saturday night. Brandon Ingram had 35 points in the win.

13. Brooklyn Nets (32-20) – last week: 13th

Once again the Nets find themselves in the spotlight. The return they got back for Kyrie was a decent one, even if it currently makes them slightly worse. They now have more flexibility and can make another move before the deadline with additional draft picks.

14. Phoenix Suns (29-26) – last week: 19th

Phoenix is supposed to get Devin Booker back this week and they just got a big win over Boston on Friday. Mikal Bridges had 25 points in the win.

15. Minnesota Timberwolves (29-27) – last week: 14th

Minnesota won a hard fought overtime game against Golden State on Wednesday. D’Angelo Russell had 29 points in the victory.

16. Los Angeles Lakers (25-29) – last week: 16th

The Lakers went 2-1 this week with wins over the Knicks and Pacers. In their overtime with over the Knicks, LeBron had 28 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds.

17. Atlanta Hawks (27-27) – last week: 17th

Atlanta is coming off of a loss to Denver. In the loss, Dejounte Murray had 28 points and 10 assists.

18. Portland Trailblazers (26-27) – last week: 21st

Damian Lillard scored 40+ points in three of the Blazers’ four games this week. The only game they lost this week was to the Bulls 129-121 on Saturday.

19. Golden State Warriors (27-26) – last week: 6th

The Warriors can’t catch a break. Stephen Curry is going to be out for a few weeks due to a left leg injury. Jordan Poole time.

20. Oklahoma City Thunder (25-27) – last week: 18th

The Thunder ran the Rockets out of the gym in their matchup on Saturday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 42 points in the thirty-two point win.

21. Indiana Pacers (25-30) – last week: 26th

Indiana got Tyrese Haliburton back this week and got a big 117-114 win over Sacramento on Friday. Buddy Hield had 21 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

22. Utah Jazz (27-27) – last week: 20th

Utah split their two games this week. In their 115-108 loss to Atlanta, Lauri Markkanen finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds.

23. Chicago Bulls (25-27) – last week: 23rd

The Bulls came on top in their last game against the Trailblazers. Zach LaVine had 36 points and made 5 threes in the victory.

24. Washington Wizards (24-28) – last week: 22nd

Kristaps Porzingis went off with 38 points against Brooklyn, but Washington fell short 125-123 on Saturday.The Wizards defense struggled and allowed 44 points from Cam Thomas.

25. Toronto Raptors (25-30) – last week: 24th

The Raptors won a tight one against Memphis in their last outing. Pascal Siakam led the way with 19 points.

26. Orlando Magic (22-32) – last week: 25th

Orlando secured a 119-113 victory Sunday against Charlotte. Wendell Carter Jr. had 20 points and 12 rebounds in the win.

27. Charlotte Hornets (15-40) – last week: 27th

The Hornets went 0-4 this week. In their latest loss to the Magic, LaMelo Ball finished with 33 points and 8 rebounds.

28. San Antonio Spurs (14-39) – last week: 28th

San Antonio has lost eight in a row. In their 137-125 loss to Philadelphia, Malaki Branham had 26 points.

29. Houston Rockets (13-40) – last week: 29th

Houston gave up 153 points to Oklahoma City on Saturday. However, they did beat Oklahoma City earlier in the week. Eric Gordon had 25 points the win.

30. Detroit Pistons (14-40) – last week: 30th

Detroit did manage to get a win against Charlotte on Friday 118-112. In the victory, Jaden Ivey had 24 points and 7 assists.