NBA Power Rankings: How good are the Lakers? And a roster reset for all 30 teams

You all know what last week was — the latest “busiest trade deadline ever.” We made some photoshops, and 10 of those featured players were traded. Twelve of our potential trade chips list from December have been moved. Now, let’s reassess these rosters.

A reminder: These Power Rankings won’t just rank every team. We will retain the tiers that teams will be promoted into and relegated out of. There will be five tiers every week:

• Top Contenders – Locked at five, these are the class of the league
• In a Good Place – Could be one team, could be seven teams
• The Bubble – Not to be confused with Walt Disney World. The middle of the pack
• Not the Tier to Fear – Not playing the worst ball in the league, but with a lot of work to do
• Basement Floor – Bringing up the rear

Let’s build the Week 16 of The Athletic’s NBA Power Rankings. Win/loss records and statistics are through Monday’s games.

Tier 1: Top Contenders

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (43-9)

Last ranking: 1
In the last week: W vs. PHO, W vs. TOR, W at MEM, W vs. NO
Offensive rating: 117.5 (sixth)
Defensive rating: 104.2 (first)

Roster reset: PG Ajay Mitchell

Oklahoma City is content with having the best team in basketball, along with more picks than anyone could possibly ever need. The Thunder gave one of their second-round picks to New Orleans for (pity) the right to waive Daniel Theis. Other than that, and this will be a recurring theme here, the big addition for the Thunder was finally debuting the front line of offseason acquisition Isaiah Hartenstein with the healthy return of Chet Holmgren. No more need for Jalen Williams center minutes! (For those reading this audibly only, the Thunder do have another Jaylin Williams who can play center too.) Oklahoma City also promoted second-round rookie Mitchell to a standard contract despite his ongoing recovery from toe surgery.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (43-10)

Last ranking: 2
In the last week: L vs. BOS, W at DET, W at WAS, W vs. MIN
Offensive rating: 121.8 (first)
Defensive rating: 111.6 (eighth)

Roster reset: PF De’Andre Hunter

Hunter started at small forward in Cleveland’s win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday with Max Strus out, but Hunter is capable of playing both forward spots. And that is important considering that the Boston Celtics deploy Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown at the forward spots when at full strength. The emergence of Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill made it easier to part with Caris LeVert, while Isaac Okoro and Dean Wade made it easier to part with Georges Niang. The only question for Cleveland is insurance on the glass for Jarrett Allen and All-Star Evan Mobley. That’s not an area Hunter will help.

3. Boston Celtics (38-16)

Last ranking: 3
In the last week: W at CLE, L vs. DAL, W at NY, W at MIA
Offensive rating: 118.8 (fourth)
Defensive rating: 109.7 (fifth)

Roster reset: SF Torrey Craig

The only standard-contract players from the 2024 championship team who aren’t on the roster today are Oshae Brissett, Svi Mykhailiuk and Jaden Springer. Brissett hasn’t signed with an NBA team since last season ended, Mykhailiuk signed with the Utah Jazz, and Springer was traded so that the Houston Rockets could waive him. Craig takes Springer’s roster spot, and he’s a reasonable facsimile for Brissett at this stage of his career. Boston still has an open roster spot as well.

4. Memphis Grizzlies (35-17)

Last ranking: 4
In the last week: W at TOR, L vs. OKC
Offensive rating: 118.1 (fifth)
Defensive rating: 110.8 (seventh)

Roster reset: PF Marvin Bagley III

The Grizzlies used their player development machine to get some future flexibility. Consider last month’s return of 2024 All-Rookie team selection GG Jackson II as this team’s big deadline addition. Jackson’s presence made it easier for the team to move off Jake LaRavia’s deal. Luke Kennard looked like he was ripe to be traded, but he fits this team, while Marcus Smart’s injury (and his status as a 2026 free agent who is owed $21 million next season) made him expendable. Bagley’s primary asset is his expiring contract, while Johnny Davis is here until Memphis decides it can find someone better on the buyout market using his roster spot. Other than that, the Grizzlies are set with the players who have been here all season.

5. New York Knicks (34-18)

Last ranking: 5
In the last week: W at TOR, L vs. BOS
Offensive rating: 119.6 (second)
Defensive rating: 113.7 (17th)

Roster reset: PG Delon Wright

Not much to see here as far as changes, but the Knicks swapping out center Jericho Sims to bring on another veteran guard in Wright is a vote of confidence for both tradeable power forward Precious Achiuwa and injured center Mitchell Robinson. Achiuwa sticks around as the team’s seventh 20-minute player, while Robinson progresses toward making his season debut.

Tier 2: In a Good Place

6. Denver Nuggets (35-19)

Last ranking: 7
In the last week: W vs. NO, W vs. ORL, W at PHO, W vs. POR
Offensive rating: 119.4 (third)
Defensive rating: 113.7 (18th)

Roster reset: PF Peyton Watson

Denver never had a seven-game win streak last season, but it is riding one now despite dealing with some injuries and not making a single transaction since the regular season began. The Nuggets aren’t going to have Watson, who has done an admirable job filling in for Aaron Gordon when necessary, for all of February. Russell Westbrook has also not played since injuring his hamstring on Jan. 31 in Philadelphia. The Nuggets are getting notable contributions from Zeke Nnaji and Jalen Pickett over the last week, which must feel like acquiring new players.

7. Los Angeles Lakers (32-19)

Last ranking: 9
In the last week: W at LAC, W vs. GS, W vs. IND, W vs. UTA
Offensive rating: 114.6 (ninth)
Defensive rating: 113.6 (16th)

Roster reset: PG Luka Dončić

For the first time since Week 2, the Lakers have both a winning record and a positive point differential. That’s a long time, but receipts are indefinite, so here we are. They traded an injured center in Anthony Davis and avoided acquiring an injured center in Mark Williams, and their stretch of powerful performance obviously started long before Dončić’s shocking arrival. The Lakers have a full roster that features several players who are stretched to contribute on the court in former Mavericks Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris and Christian Wood, so it will be interesting to see how much more they can do to enhance the group. But after getting outscored by 101 points through Jan. 14, the Lakers have the league’s best record (12-2) while outscoring foes by 154 points, second only to the Thunder.

Tier 3: The Bubble

8. Houston Rockets (33-20)

Last ranking: 6
In the last week: L at BRK, L at MIN, L at DAL, W vs. TOR
Offensive rating: 113.8 (13th)
Defensive rating: 109.3 (fourth)

Roster reset: C Cody Zeller

The Rockets took advantage of a visit from the Raptors to snap the longest losing streak of Ime Udoka’s head coaching career at six games. But this deadline made it clear that Houston wants to see its team in a playoff setting before going about disrupting the plan with a major deadline move. Zeller went from not being with the Atlanta Hawks to not being with Houston after the Rockets recouped a second-round pick from Atlanta to acquire him, and he could be let go if a buyout target emerges. The Rockets already waived Springer after a trade with the Celtics. Houston needs to get All-Star Alperen Şengün, point guard Fred VanVleet and power forward Jabari Smith Jr. healthy, and as I said last week, any addition for this team needs to be able to help with the Rockets’ woeful shooting.

9. Indiana Pacers (29-22)

Last ranking: 8
In the last week: L at POR, W at LAC, L at LAL
Offensive rating: 114.3 (10th)
Defensive rating: 114.0 (19th)

Roster reset: C Thomas Bryant

The only roster moves the Pacers have made all season with regards to their standard contracts have been related to the Achilles tendon tears suffered by backup centers Isaiah Jackson and free-agent acquisition James Wiseman. Indiana traded for Bryant in December, and it used the deadline to let the Toronto Raptors waive Wiseman. The Pacers are still kicking the tires on center insurance, but the main point here is that a team that made the Eastern Conference finals and hasn’t lost consecutive games since January began is going to keep rolling with continuity.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves (30-24)

Last ranking: 12
In the last week: W vs. CHI, W vs. HOU, W vs. POR, L at CLE
Offensive rating: 113.8 (14th)
Defensive rating: 110.5 (sixth)

Roster reset: PG Tristen Newton

The only player Minnesota has added since the start of the season was Newton, a second-round pick by Indiana who wound up replacing Daishen Nix on a two-way contract. Minnesota made its splash move on the eve of training camp by trading Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle. Remember how shocking that was? The Mavericks, who of course beat Minnesota in last year’s Western Conference finals, said hold my beer just four months later.

11. LA Clippers (29-23)

Last ranking: 10
In the last week: L vs. LAL, L vs. IND, W vs. UTA
Offensive rating: 111.4 (20th)
Defensive rating: 108.3 (second)

Roster reset: SG Bogdan Bogdanović

The Clippers are treating Kawhi Leonard’s return as their splash in-season move, quite like they did a year ago when James Harden debuted in November 2023. But the Clippers also switched out five standard contracts this month. The most notable acquisition is Bogdanović, who cost the team Terance Mann and will replace Kevin Porter Jr. as the primary shot creator in the second unit. Even though Ben Simmons is the loudest and most intriguing name, it is more likely that Bogdanović gives the Clippers their best chance of enhancing the team overall going forward.

12. Milwaukee Bucks (28-24)

Last ranking: 13
In the last week: W at CHA, L at ATL, W vs. PHI, L vs. GS
Offensive rating: 113.9 (12th)
Defensive rating: 112.7 (11th)

Roster reset: PF Kyle Kuzma

In are Kuzma, guard Kevin Porter Jr. and center Jericho Sims. Out are guard Delon Wright, wing MarJon Beauchamp and star Khris Middleton. Milwaukee certainly added size to a front line that needed the depth. Wright and 2022 first-round pick Beauchamp weren’t in the rotation, while Porter may get a chance at minutes. Middleton was in his 12th season with the Bucks, and while he had a $34 million player option looming, Kuzma is under contract through 2027 while shooting career lows from everywhere. Porter has also struggled with his shot. The Bucks are more balanced as far as the roster. But damn.

13. Sacramento Kings (27-26)

Last ranking: 11
In the last week: L vs. ORL, L at POR, W vs. NO, W at DAL
Offensive rating: 115.1 (eighth)
Defensive rating: 114.0 (20th)

Roster reset: SG Zach LaVine

The Kings won the first-ever “We didn’t need Luka Dončić” invitational with the Mavericks on Monday night. Here’s a fun fact: The trade of De’Aaron Fox takes away the last Kings player remaining with the team since Bagley debuted months after Sacramento drafted him over Dončić. Sacramento played the Utah Jazz that night, and the Jazz had current King Jae Crowder and current Maverick Dante Exum on the team. Anyways, the Fox trade brought LaVine to Sacramento. It’s been a slow start for him, but his former Chicago Bulls teammate DeMar DeRozan seems to be rejuvenated by the addition of LaVine and another former teammate of his, former Toronto Raptors lottery pick Jonas Valančiūnas.

14. Golden State Warriors (27-26)

Last ranking: 16
In the last week: L at UTA, L at LAL, W at CHI, W at MIL
Offensive rating: 112.3 (17th)
Defensive rating: 112.0 (10th)

Roster reset: SF Jimmy Butler

Relationship dissension makes the NBA go ’round. The Warriors were crying out for a life raft ever since last season ended. They couldn’t get Paul George. They couldn’t get Lauri Markkanen. They couldn’t get Kevin Durant. Dallas didn’t call them about Dončić. But here are the Warriors, the team that benefits from the extended falling out between the leader of Miami’s last two NBA Finals teams. I love the basketball fit for Butler, who goes from one pass-heavy/movement-heavy offense to another. Instead of Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, he’s with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, the prototypes of their offensive roles. In Milwaukee, Butler attempted 15 free throws, his ninth game of the season with at least 10 free-throw attempts and his second as a Warrior. The rest of the Warriors individually have only 10 games combined with at least 10 free-throw attempts this season.

15. Detroit Pistons (27-26)

Last ranking: 17
In the last week: L vs. CLE, W vs. PHI, W vs. CHA
Offensive rating: 112.6 (15th)
Defensive rating: 113.1 (12th)

Roster reset: PG Dennis Schröder

I have been saying often that the Pistons could use ballhandling relief for All-Star Cade Cunningham, and that was before the serious leg injury to Jaden Ivey. If they can get Schröder’s head to stop spinning after he was involved in his third trade since mid-December, then he should be a big help to Detroit’s options. Detroit also got shooting guard Lindy Waters III, who has range despite a career-worst 33.1 percent clip from 3 this season. The trade activity resulted in only Wendell Moore Jr. being waived, while Detroit also collected two second-round picks for temporarily acquiring KJ Martin from Philadelphia.

16. Dallas Mavericks (28-26)

Last ranking: 18
In the last week: L at PHI, W at BOS, W vs. HOU, L vs. SAC
Offensive rating: 115.4 (seventh)
Defensive rating: 113.5 (15th)

Roster reset: PF Anthony Davis

So last year, the Mavericks were quite mid. Literally in the middle of the West. They tried this innovative thing to optimize the roster around Dončić, got 48 minutes of rim protection by acquiring center Daniel Gafford and getting a mulligan on the Grant Williams signing by flipping him for P.J. Washington. Four months later, Dallas was in the NBA Finals, and no one had anything bad to say about Nico Harrison, who went on to use that credit to get older, worse and, after “power forward” Davis aggravated his core muscle in his Mavericks’ debut, even less durable than before. Any time you can expedite the closing of contention windows that are rarely open, you have to do it!

17. Phoenix Suns (26-26)

Last ranking: 15
In the last week: L at OKC, W vs. UTA, L vs. DEN
Offensive rating: 114.1 (11th)
Defensive rating: 115.7 (25th)

Roster reset: C Nick Richards

The Suns already made one trade with the Charlotte Hornets to get Richards, a move that unofficially signaled the end of the Jusuf Nurkić experiment. I guess it was only right to go back to the Hornets three weeks later and officially complete the offloading of Nurkić at the cost of a first-round pick and the open roster spot Phoenix had. The Suns have decent depth if you look at their roster. But they’re paying for the galaxy brain acquisition of Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause, and now the Durant Doom Clock is ticking after he had to express his disinterest in going to certain locations.

Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear

18. Miami Heat (25-26)

Last ranking: 14
In the last week: L at CHI, W at PHI, L at BRK, L vs. BOS
Offensive rating: 111.2 (21st)
Defensive rating: 111.9 (ninth)

Roster reset: SF Andrew Wiggins

It’s not quite Dončić for Davis, but the Heat and Warriors swapped former All-Star small forwards with recent finals experience, with the added carat that Jimmy Butler and Wiggins were teammates (and ultimately adversaries) on the only good Timberwolves team of the 2010s. Spicy! The last time the Heat traded a 35-year-old who was an All-Star for them midseason was in 2008, when Shaquille O’Neal was sent to Phoenix for 58 games of Shawn Marion. Wiggins is the same age now that Butler was when he arrived at South Beach in 2019, so Miami hopes he can stick around a little longer.

19. Atlanta Hawks (26-28)

Last ranking: 20
In the last week: L vs. SA, W vs. MIL, W at WAS, W at ORL
Offensive rating: 110.9 (23rd)
Defensive rating: 113.2 (13th)

Roster reset: PF Georges Niang

Atlanta undoubtedly raised its floor, if nothing else. The Hawks traded Zeller after he wasn’t with the team all year, and they waived David Roddy after bringing back Niang, Caris LeVert and Terance Mann. They parted with Bogdanović, who has been struggling through a season of decreased efficiency and volume. Niang started in his Hawks debut, LeVert can approximate what Bogdanović does, and Mann can be a connector while he discusses his 39-point game that ended the 2021 Jazz with Niang and new coach Quin Snyder. The Hawks will miss Hunter, but they also need to let Zaccharie Risacher cook.

20. Orlando Magic (26-29)

Last ranking: 22
In the last week: W at SAC, L at DEN, W vs. SA, L vs. ATL
Offensive rating: 107.2 (29th)
Defensive rating: 109.0 (third)

Roster reset: SG Ethan Thompson

I admire the consistency of the Magic. Do you realize the biggest name this team has added at the deadline in Jamahl Mosley’s time as coach is Bol Bol in 2023? The commitment to sleep is admirable. Just count on the season starting in October and the Magic just riding it out with their guys, no matter how bad the shooting or oblique tears are. Anyways, I’m happy for Thompson, a developing shooter who has been waiting for his opportunity since 2021. And even Thompson is only on a two-way contract spot that Orlando left empty ever since Thompson was a part of final cuts after the preseason.

21. San Antonio Spurs (23-28)

Last ranking: 19
In the last week: W at ATL, L at CHA, L at ORL, W at WAS
Offensive rating: 112.6 (16th)
Defensive rating: 114,1 (21st)

Roster reset: PG De’Aaron Fox

This is a Spurs team that went from starting Jeremy Sochan at point guard to begin the Victor Wembanyama era to drafting Stephon Castle, signing Chris Paul and trading Tre Jones to acquire Fox. Fox has been at shooting guard while Paul stays in the starting lineup, but Fox looks great to start his tenure in San Antonio, and Castle is the future next to Fox if he can get his jump shot right. The Spurs also traded Zach Collins and Sidy Cissoko while adding point guard Jordan McLaughlin (I know, another one) while giving Bismack Biyombo a 10-day contract while center Charles Bassey (MCL) is out.

22. Portland Trail Blazers (23-31)

Last ranking: 21
In the last week: W vs. IND, W vs. SAC, L at MIN, L at DEN
Offensive rating: 110.0 (25th)
Defensive rating: 115.4 (13th)

Roster reset: SF Sidy Cissoko

Yes, it took 2023 Spurs second-round pick Cissoko getting traded twice, then waived, for Portland to make any kind of transaction for the first time since the regular season started. And all Portland had room for was to replace Taze Moore with Cissoko on a two-way contract. For the second season in a row, Portland did not trade a starter, and it will continue its Play-In Tournament push after a stretch where it won 10 of 11 games.

23. Philadelphia 76ers (20-32)

Last ranking: 23
In the last week: W vs. DAL, L vs. MIA, L at DET, L at MIL
Offensive rating: 111.5 (19th)
Defensive rating: 115.4 (24th)

Roster reset: SG Quentin Grimes

The clock is ticking on the Sixers, but they did upgrade the bench by acquiring Grimes, who is now on his fourth team since the beginning of last February while still on his rookie contract. Philadelphia has handed out more than 1,600 minutes combined to 30-something guards Eric Gordon, Kyle Lowry and the since-traded Reggie Jackson this season. Grimes gives the Sixers a shooter with backcourt size. Undrafted rookie forward Justin Edwards has also been promoted from his two-way contract after starting the last eight games and shooting 41 percent from 3. But everything comes down to how many games the Sixers can get out of Joel Embiid and Paul George.

24. Chicago Bulls (22-31)

Last ranking: 24
In the last week: W vs. MIA, L at MIN, L vs. GS
Offensive rating: 112.2 (18th)
Defensive rating: 116.0 (27th)

Roster reset: SF Kevin Huerter

For those keeping track, the Chicago Bulls turned DeRozan (offseason) and LaVine (this month) into Chris Duarte, one first-round pick, one second-round pick, Huerter, Zach Collins and Tre Jones. Duarte and Craig were waived, and none of Huerter, Collins or Jones will be starting. Nikola Vučević is still here though, along with two other players from Billy Donovan’s first Bulls team (Coby White and Patrick Williams). That 2020-21 team finished 11th in the East, and it appears this one is headed for a similar fate.

25. Brooklyn Nets (19-34)

Last ranking: 26
In the last week: W vs. HOU, L vs. WAS, W vs. MIA, W vs. CHA
Offensive rating: 108.7 (27th)
Defensive rating: 114.9 (22nd)

Roster reset: PG D’Angelo Russell

In what was something of a minor surprise, Brooklyn did not complete any February trades. The Nets did buy out the remainder of Ben Simmons’ contract, leaving them with only one southpaw former All-Star point guard who played at Montverde (Fla.) Academy who happens to be in the final year of his deal. Russell was acquired in December from the Lakers, which is the same month the Nets traded Schröder to Golden State. Cameron Johnson will finish the rest of the season in Brooklyn despite being a popular name in the trade machine.

Tier 5: Basement Floor

26. Toronto Raptors (16-37)

Last ranking: 25
In the last week: L vs. NY, L vs. MEM, L at OKC, L at HOU
Offensive rating: 110.1 (24th)
Defensive rating: 115.8 (26th)

Roster reset: SF Brandon Ingram

The Raptors are very interesting to me. When January 2024 started, they were in between the OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam trades. That meant Toronto starting lineups featuring Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Siakam and Jakob Poeltl during a particularly difficult stretch of their season. Since then, they have flipped Siakam for Ingram, both with the help of Bruce Brown’s championship contract. I can see the Raptors trying to slot Ingram into Siakam’s old spot and let Barnes be a head-of-snake playmaker for a pass-heavy offense. But also, Ingram is injured and in a contract year with the Raptors 21 wins under .500. There’s a chance we never see this group get extended run this season.

27. Charlotte Hornets (13-38)

Last ranking: 28
In the last week: L vs. MIL, W vs. SA, L at DET, L at BRK
Offensive rating: 108.2 (28th)
Defensive rating: 113.4 (14th)

Roster reset: C Jusuf Nurkić

Yikes, this is awkward. The Hornets have been better all season with Mark Williams off the floor defensively, and not only did they trade him to acquire a player they could have drafted No. 6 in Dalton Knecht, but they went ahead and traded for a roster replacement as well in Nurkić. For good measure, Charlotte promoted Moussa Diabaté from his two-way contract. But now it has to put the genie back in the bottle with the rescission of the trade. For now, Nurkić replaces Cody Martin, while 10-day contract Elfrid Payton replaces Vasa Micić.

28. Utah Jazz (12-40)

Last ranking: 27
In the last week: W vs. GS, L at PHO, L at LAC, L at LAL
Offensive rating: 111.1 (22nd)
Defensive rating: 118.5 (28th)

Roster reset: PF KJ Martin

All of those veteran players who were discussed as possible trade options for the Jazz (Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, Walker Kessler) wound up staying put. This comes on the heels of signing Lauri Markkanen to a contract extension in August that made him untradeable to begin with. Utah did trade Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills to the Clippers and ultimately acquired Martin, who hasn’t played since Christmas. But the Jazz will forever be a footnote in the Davis/Dončić trade since they acquired since-waived guard Jalen Hood-Schifino from the transaction.

29. New Orleans Pelicans (12-41)

Last ranking: 29
In the last week: L at DEN, L at SAC, L at OKC
Offensive rating: 109.5 (26th)
Defensive rating: 118.6 (30)

Roster reset: SG Bruce Brown

I mentioned how the Raptors basically went from Siakam to Ingram. Well, let’s stretch this out — I realize this is a Bikram yoga reach — but with Anthony Davis on his third team, here is who the Pelicans basically got for him: Tomáš Satoranský, Garrett Temple, CJ McCollum, Larry Nance Jr., Tony Snell, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaxson Hayes, Didi Louzada, Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown. And this is all while winning the 2019 lottery and drafting Zion Williamson. I’m sure if they knew they could trade all of those players for Dončić instead, they’d sign right up for it!

30. Washington Wizards (9-44)

Last ranking: 30
In the last week: W at BRK, L vs. CLE, L vs. ATL, L vs. SA
Offensive rating: 105.4 (30th)
Defensive rating: 118.6 (29th)

Roster reset: PF Khris Middleton

The Wizards have won enough games to not have to worry about the worst record in league history, so that’s nice. This is a team that made a lot of moves, and it is interesting to see that the veterans they choose to add have extensive postseason experience, if not straight-up success. They traded a former NBA champion in Kuzma for another in Middleton, a three-time All-Star. Valančiūnas is gone, but they added Smart, who has played in 108 playoff games. Both Smart and Middleton have played with Malcolm Brogdon, who is still here for now. Washington also added a fourth 2024 first-round draft pick in AJ Johnson. Middleton and Smart aren’t expected to join the Wizards until after the All-Star break, so none of their new players are actually in the lineup yet for Washington. That includes 10-day contract Jaylen Nowell and two-way contract Jaylen Martin; gone are former lottery pick Johnny Davis, Bagley, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and two-way contract Jared Butler.

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(Top photo of Luka Dončić: Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Imagn Images)