The 2026 NBA trade deadline is officially in the rearview. After weeks of rumors and speculation, teams around the league have their rosters (pretty much) set for the remainder of the season. So, how did all the moves before Thursday’s deadline change the pecking order in the league? We look to answer that question with our new NBA power rankings after this week’s trade deadline.
30. Sacramento Kings (LW: 27)
On paper, the Sacramento Kings should have been a good team this season. They have two multi-time All-Star guards, a top-notch big man in Domantas Sabonis (when healthy), and impact players on the bench. But as some observers expected, the Kings have been a massive disappointment this season.
Their offense and defense are among the worst in the league, which is why they have the worst record in the NBA (12-40). Their awful play likely played a role in hurting the value of certain veterans they tried to move before the trade deadline.
29. Washington Wizards (LW: 29)
This has been another disappointing season for the Washington Wizards. Yet, there are signs of hope from their former first-round picks, as Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George have played well this season. That is why Washington made some bold moves before the NBA trade deadline.
The Wizards’ trades for Trae Young and Anthony Davis won’t help them this season, but it does mean a pair of high-level veterans can lead their young core next season. They will tank in the second half, but there is reason to believe they will have a big bounce-back year in 2026-27.
28. New Orleans Pelicans (LW: 28)
It’s another season, and the New Orleans Pelicans and Zion Williamson are among the worst teams in the league again. Despite strong play from rookie Derik Queen, the Pelicans are mediocre on offense, and even worse on defense (121.0 opponent PPG).
They did not make any notable moves before the trade deadline and are looking to rack up ping pong balls for the rest of the season.
27. Brooklyn Nets (LW: 26)
In June’s draft, the Brooklyn Nets had four first-round picks and chose to use them instead of packaging the quartet in trades for veteran players. They also had the most available cap space in the offseason but held off on splurging in a weak free agent market. Unfortunately, the cautious approach has not delivered results in the new season.
While new addition Michael Porter Jr. has been great for them, the rebuild continues. Furthermore, they showed the goal is to get a high pick in June when they surprisingly waived Cam Thomas in February despite being their second-highest scorer this season.
26. Memphis Grizzlies (LW: 20)
The Memphis Grizzlies were always going to be different after firing Taylor Jenkins late last season and replacing him with assistant Tuomas Iisalo. However, before the trade deadline, the team officially confirmed that this season is the start of their rebuild after they traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Jazz.
While top star Ja Morant was linked to various rumors, the team was unable to move the talented but difficult guard. But reportedly will try again in the summer. After a bad start to the season, Memphis will look to tank its way toward a top pick in June.
25. Dallas Mavericks (LW: 23)
The Dallas Mavericks got off to a rough start this season as Anthony Davis struggled to stay on the court, and the absence of Kyrie Irving became blatantly apparent. Furthermore, highly-touted No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg had a steep learning curve in his first couple of months as an NBA player. It’s a major reason why GM Nico Harrison was fired in November.
However, the youngster has started to get his NBA legs under him and is showing he really does have the talent to be one of the faces of the league in a few years. His recent play is why Dallas traded Anthony Davis before the deadline. It won’t be fun, but Dallas is in tanking mode the rest of the season, so they can set the stage to add more pieces around the man guaranteed to win ROTY this spring.
24. Milwaukee Bucks (LW: 21)
The Milwaukee Bucks made some big changes in the summer when they moved on from future Hall of Famer Damian Lillard and signed Myles Turner to keep top star Giannis Antetokounmpo happy. The move didn’t work, and they have been one of the NBA’s biggest disappointments this year.
It led the team to take offers on the Greek legend. However, in the end, they held on to him and will revisit a trade closer to the draft. It also means they will likely keep him sidelined for the rest of the year and look to tank their way into a top pick in June.
23. Indiana Pacers (LW: 30)
The Indiana Pacers were expected to struggle mightily this season after top star Tyrese Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles in the Finals, and they lost Myles Turner to the Bucks in free agency. They have lived up to those expectations this season and own one of the worst records in the league.
However, there is renewed hope of making a late-season run at a play-in spot. Before the NBA trade deadline, Indiana traded for Clippers big man Ivica Zubac to pair with Pascal Siakam for the rest of the season. While making the playoffs is a long shot, Zubac will help give Pacers fans something a lot better to watch down the stretch.
22. Chicago Bulls (LW: 18)
Late last season, the Chicago Bulls offered fans hope after the trade that brought Josh Giddey to town. However, despite a formidable offense, their defense giving up 120.2 points a night is why they are currently outside the playoff picture.
That’s why they were one of the most active teams before the NBA trade deadline to make use of the many expiring contracts they had. In the various deals, they landed a bunch of second-round picks and 2022 fifth overall pick, Jaden Ivey. In the second half, they will hope the former Pistons guard can flourish for them just like Giddey did this time last year.
21. Portland Trail Blazers (LW: 17)
The Portland Trail Blazers have a roster of respectable veterans and youngsters with upside, including Shaedon Sharpe. That upside has helped this season after a dark cloud was placed over their season when former head coach Chauncey Billups was implicated in a wild poker game rigging scheme.
A key reason why Portland has the chance to finish .500 and compete in the play-in is the latest development leap from former Wizards lottery pick Deni Avdija. His career year (25.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.7 assists) has helped fans forget about the Billups drama and made the Trail Blazers respectable in 2026.
20. Utah Jazz (LW: 24)
Last year, Will Hardy and his team took another step back as the Utah Jazz finished dead last in the 2024-25 NBA standings. While they haven’t been much better this season, the outstanding play of Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George offered long-term hope.
But they made a bold win-now move before the trade deadline when they acquired two-time All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. While they are thinking big picture with the trade, Jackson Jr.’s addition will now give Jazz fans hope about a play-in spot this season.
19. Charlotte Hornets (LW: 25)
While LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges posted good numbers this season, and Kon Knueppel is a rookie of the year candidate, the Charlotte Hornets looked headed to being a lottery team again this spring. However, there is renewed hope around the team in February.
Their young team has played well of late, winning eight straight. That’s why they chose to add before the deadline and acquired talented rental scorer Coby White. After being underwhelming for much of the season, the Hornets are in the play-in tourney mix.
18. Atlanta Hawks (LW: 19)
For the Atlanta Hawks, this season has very much been about further development in their rebuild. The best proof of that is Jalen Johnson’s emergence into a new star setting up the bold trade that sent Trae Young to Washington.
Along with the Young trade, Atlanta made a couple of other moves, including a deal for Jonathan Kuminga. The Hawks have a young, very athletic team with upside. They are ones to keep an eye on in the second half.
17. Los Angeles Clippers (LW: 22)
The Los Angeles Clippers were a mess over the first couple of months of the season. It’s why rumors began to circulate that they could move some of their veteran talent in the hopes of getting draft picks and cap flexibility this summer. But when they got red-hot in January, that seemed less likely.
Well, LA ended up being one of the biggest sellers before the trade deadline. In one move, they sent James Harden to Cleveland, then they surprisingly shipped off talented center Ivica Zubac to Indiana in a deal that landed them two first-rounders. D
Despite being in the playoff chase, the Clippers may aim to lose more than they win in the second half to get more ping pong balls in May.
16. Miami Heat (LW: 15)
The Miami Heat have underwhelmed this season despite Norman Powell having an even better season than his All-Star year for the Clippers in 2024-25. A major reason why is a defense that is among the worst in the league (118.0 PPG). This is definitely not a vintage Erik Spoelstra team.
That is why they were linked to both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant trades before the deadline. However, Thursday came and went without Miami making a big move. It looks like this will be a disappointing gap year for the Heat that may or may not include a playoff trip.
15. Orlando Magic (LW: 13)
The Orlando Magic have been a very weird team this season. They have a lot of strong young talent, especially after giving up a boatload of draft picks for Desmond Bane in the summer. However, they have not lived up to expectations this season and are now fighting to be a play-in team this season.
Their usually reliable defense has regressed in 2026, and Bane has not turned the offense into a top 10 unit. The Magic probably needed to make a big trade before the deadline, but chose to stand pat on Feb. 5.
14. Golden State Warriors (LW: 16)
Last spring, the Golden State Warriors looked like a serious dark horse to reach the Finals. However, Stephen Curry’s hamstring injury threw ice water on those aspirations. Another stunning injury again derailed their championship plans in January when Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending ACL tear.
With their season in limbo, Golden State was one of the most aggressive clubs in the Antetokounmpo trade market. Unfortunately, that pursuit failed, and they pivoted to adding sickly veteran big man Kristaps Porzingis. They got better before the deadline, but the Warriors are likely a play-in team in 2026.
13. Toronto Raptors (LW: 11)
Last season was a disappointment for the Toronto Raptors. However, they played the long game and hoped that year two for head coach Darko Rajaković, and the addition of veteran scorer Brandon Ingram, could lead to far better results in the 2025-26 season. They were right.
The Raptors were an offense-driven team that became a top-10 defense in 2026. They are giving up 112.4 PPG — eighth best in the NBA. It’s a major reason why they have been a top-five team in the East all season.
While they didn’t make the big move some speculated they would, the addition of future Hall of Famer Chris Paul will be a plus for this young team.
12. Philadelphia 76ers (LW: 12)
The Philadelphia 76ers were the biggest disappointment in the NBA last season as injuries to their top two players destroyed any plans to be an NBA Finals contender. The only positive from the lost campaign was that Tyrese Maxey confirmed he is a legitimate star in the league. He has continued that in 2025-26 and may have a new long-term running partner in VJ Edgecombe.
The 76ers begin the month in a good place. They are a top-six team in the East and have been slowly working Joel Embiid back into being the elite talent the league is used to. If he is ready for the playoffs, Embiid and Maxey could be a big problem for rivals this spring.
11. Cleveland Cavaliers (LW: 14)
Last year, the Cleveland Cavaliers were the East’s best team during the regular season. However, for much of this season, Cleveland has become one of the NBA’s biggest disappointments despite not dealing with major injuries this season.
Despite having one of the better offenses in the league (119.4 PPG), they understandably chose to shake things up and shipped Darius Garland to LA for future Hall of Famer James Harden. It will be interesting to see how Kenny Atkinson fits him into the system, but the Cavs are clearly thinking that having an elite offense can get them to the Finals in June.
10. Phoenix Suns (LW: 10)
Outside of the 76ers, the Phoenix Suns were the NBA’s biggest letdown in 2024-25. However, after going with an addition by subtraction approach in the offseason, they have emerged as one of this season’s pleasant surprises. And it is partially thanks to 3-and-D expert Dillon Brooks, who is having a career year in the desert this season.
Top star Devin Booker has, of course, played great, but the emergence of Grayson Allen into a high-impact player in his eighth season has been big. New head coach Jordan Ott has also turned this group into one of the best defensive units in the league, and it’s why they are flirting with being a top-six team in the West.
9. Los Angeles Lakers (LW: 6)
There were big expectations for the Los Angeles Lakers this season. They got a full training camp with young superstar Luka Doncic, and head coach JJ Redick impressed during his rookie year. Plus, they still have one of the greatest players of all time, LeBron James, still playing at a high level.
While fan-favorite Austin Reaves has had the best season of his career, LA has a clear weakness: its defense. The team that is giving up 116.4 points a night has a bottom-10 defensive rating. For as formidable as they are, it remains the key issue holding them back from being a serious threat to OKC.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (LW: 9)
With top star Anthony Edwards leading the way and Julius Randle playing well, the Minnesota Timberwolves are having another productive season. They are also among the four best scoring teams in the league (119.6 PPG). However, the defense that carried them to back-to-back Conference title games has regressed this season.
It is why they are in a fight to avoid being in the play-in this spring. To improve their title hopes, Minny was a serious contender in the trade chase for Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, that pursuit failed. They will now hope this team can recapture its previous form in the second half.
7. Houston Rockets (LW: 4)
The Houston Rockets were one of the best stories in the NBA last season, as they evolved into an elite team in the West with strong defense and the emergence of Alperen Sengun. Now with NBA legend Kevin Durant, the Rockets have the talent to be a serious threat to the Thunder in the spring.
While it wasn’t obvious early in the season, their lack of a proven floor general is a clear weakness for Houston and why they are a middle-of-the-road defensive team this season. Fortunately, that elite defense from last season remains, as they are only giving up 110.1 a night — third best in the league.
6. Denver Nuggets (LW: 5)
When you have the best player on the planet, the Denver Nuggets will always be a very competitive squad. However, this season is a good bit different. First, former assistant David Adelman is leading the bench and overseeing the second-best scoring team in the NBA (120.1 PPG). However, Jamal Murray’s resurgence has been a huge story.
After a pair of seasons where it looked like he was actually in a decline at only 28 years old, the guard earned All-Star honors for the first time from the career year he is having. He came up huge when Nikola Jokic missed a month, and he is why Denver is looking very similar to their title team of a few seasons ago.
5. Boston Celtics (LW: 7)
Jayson Tatum’s season-ending injury last year completely altered the trajectory of the Boston Celtics this season. Or so we thought. Despite being without him for most of the season and moving on from Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford in the summer, the Celtics are one of the East’s elite again.
Coach Joe Mazzulla continues to show why he is one of the best in the NBA as he has Boston playing some stifling defense (108.6 opponents’ points). Plus, Jaylen Brown is getting serious MVP talk with his performance this season. Their trade deadline edition of Nikola Vucevic gives them a major upgrade at center and rounds out a dark horse contender this spring.
4. New York Knicks (LW: 8)
After coming up short in the East Finals, the New York Knicks took the bold step of firing head coach Tom Thibodeau and replacing him with veteran coach Mike Brown. The move has led to an up-and-down season and fears about the team’s defense and Karl-Anthony Towns‘ fit in the offense.
This season’s Emirates NBA Cup winner did not make a big move before the trade deadline despite rampant rumors, and it might have been the right decision. After a recent players-only meeting, the Knicks have won eight straight and are tied for the fourth-best record in the NBA. Despite the recent drama, New York is heating up again.
3. San Antonio Spurs (LW: 2)
The assumption at the start of the season was that the San Antonio Spurs were primed to take a big leap forward with Victor Wembanyama back healthy — and taller — a full season of De’Aaron Fox, and year two for ROTY Stephon Castle has a lot of promise. Well, few expected them to be this good.
Even though Wemby has missed almost 15 games, San Antonio has the third-best record in the league, and a major reason is a top 10 defense that is giving up 112.0 PPG. They are well ahead of schedule and could be a serious problem in the playoffs if they stay healthy.
2. Detroit Pistons (LW: 3)
The Detroit Pistons were the No. 1 feel-good story of last season as they went from being the worst team in the league to a top-six group in the conference. Well, they have evolved into an elite squad that is just a couple of games out from owning the best record in the NBA.
Unsurprisingly, the Pistons are again getting All-NBA play from top star Cade Cunningham. However, along with a top-five defense (110.3 opponent’s PPG), the maturation of Jalen Duren into one of the game’s best centers has been a massive story in Detroit. Unlike last season, they have a legit second star in 2025-26.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (LW: 1)
The Oklahoma City Thunder were the best team in the NBA throughout last season. Posting 68 wins with elite defense and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earning MVP honors for the first time. Things haven’t changed in 2025-26 as the team is on pace to win well over 60 games again.
OKC has been even more dominant this season, and not only are they giving up the fewest points in the league (107.9), but they also lead the NBA in scoring (120.2). They are the most complete team in the league to begin February.
