NBA power rankings 2026: Are the contenders improving, and more trade deadline retrospective

For this week’s power rankings, we’re ranking the teams in order and through tiers of contention, like we’ve been doing, but also assigning grades for the totality of each franchise’s trade deadline moves.

TIER ONE: Genuine, unquestioned contenders

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (40-13)

Did they get better? Yes. While Oklahoma City has gone .500 over the past two weeks, they retain their spot atop these power rankings for the obvious reason that, still, they remain the league’s team to beat. They were the only team over .500 to send out a first-round pick for a player last week, nabbing Jared McCain.

McCain instantly becomes the team’s second-best shooter and a more capable play initiator than Isaiah Joe, something which will become important now that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will sit out through the All-Star Game. I’m still slightly bearish on McCain’s postseason impact, at least right now, but going out to get a young player on an affordable contract by using the treasure trove of draft capital is a move that Sam Presti has always had available to him. This seems like a smart buy-low case no matter how it pans out, and it’s even more of a win when considering how quiet other title contenders were.

Overall deadline grade: A

2. Detroit Pistons (38-13)

Did they get better? Detroit had the ammunition to acquire a starting-level piece. Despite being first place in the Eastern Conference and second in these power rankings, the Pistons declined to make seismic moves, upgrading only around the edges by sending out Jaden Ivey and most notably getting back Kevin Huerter. While Huerter hasn’t shot 3s well the past couple seasons, and certainly won’t threaten Duncan Robinson’s minutes, he’s another movement shooter who does more around the edges. Detroit also cleared room for Daniss Jenkins, the team’s breakout guard, to be converted to a full-time contract after he had run out of eligible games.

The Pistons were already great, and they’re marginally deeper. I wonder how close they came to a true win-now move, but patience can be afforded to a team that’s still built around a core that’s this young.

Overall deadline grade: B

3. San Antonio Spurs (36-16)

Did they get better? No. San Antonio was one of the league’s three teams to not make a move.

Overall deadline grade: N/A

4. Denver Nuggets (34-19)

Did they get better? Yes, technically. Denver traded Hunter Tyson to make sure Spencer Jones could be converted to a full-time roster spot, and Jones has been a godsend for this Nuggets roster that has been chasing health since the year began. Unfortunately, that’s still the outlook for the season’s coming months, but at least they won’t have to worry if Jones has played too many games.

Overall deadline grade: B

TIER TWO: Show us a little more

5. Boston Celtics (34-19)

Did they get better? Yes, the Celtics are probably better this season and certainly better set up to return to clear title contention as soon as next year after a slew of tax-saving moves sent out some end-of-the-bench players. Boston’s most meaningful change was to send out Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vučević, who adds veteran heft to a backcourt that may need it. If Jayson Tatum really does return this season, Simons’ minutes probably would’ve fallen, too. Either way, Boston’s most significant addition this season was to fall beneath the luxury tax line and reset the team’s repeater tax. To do that while arguably improving their team — although we’ll see — gives them one of the league’s most impressive deadlines.

Overall deadline grade: A

6. New York Knicks (34-19)

Did they get better? Yes, Jose Alvarado’s addition for two second-round picks was especially notable when factoring in Miles McBride’s recent injury, which will likely cost him most, if not all, of the remaining regular season. When he’s healthy, it might be difficult to play major minutes to both those small guards given Jalen Brunson’s omnipresence on the court. Still, Alvarado has an on-court motor that will endear him to Knicks fans and hopefully, also, his teammates. While New York locked back in for this recent hot stretch, winning nine of the past 10, Alvarado is the type of player you want around when the Knicks lost eight of 10 prior to this streak.

Overall deadline grade: B-

7. Minnesota Timberwolves (32-22)

Did they get better? Minnesota needed a guard like Ayo Dosunmu, who the team acquired by sending out Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and four second-round picks. They have been needing someone like him, in fact, which Dillingham’s selection was supposed to solve. (They are fairly different players, but another ball handler next to Anthony Edwards has been the objective for some time now given Conley’s decline.) Now, there are opportunity costs to consider here. Donsunmu’s contract expires this summer, and the Timberwolves may end up offering him a contract that looks an awful lot like Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s. I’d rather have the latter. But Minnesota meaningfully improved its team; not every contender can claim that.

Overall deadline grade: B

8. Cleveland Cavaliers (32-21)

Against top-10 opponents: 5-13, minus-4.6 point differential (13th)

Did they get better? Yes, James Harden has been better and more available than Darius Garland this season; Keon Ellis and Dennis Shröder are more playable than Lonzo Ball or, quite possibly, De’Andre Hunter have been. Hunter would’ve played in the postseason, and perhaps he’ll find his shot again in Sacramento, but Ellis may be needed to spend turns on, say, Jalen Brunson or Immanuel Quickley in a potential Eastern Conference series. That’s a reasonable upgrade for a minimal cost.

It’s the Harden-for-Garland swap, of course, that’ll define this deadline. Cleveland felt it had to make moves; Mitchell wanted some, and securing his extension this summer is the Cavaliers’ primary objective as a team. This version of Harden doesn’t reach Garland’s highest heights, but Cleveland has too much urgency to wait for him to get his body right. Plus, while Cleveland’s frontcourt has always received more scrutiny for whether it fits together, Mitchell and Garland both being smaller guards was another team construction problem that this solves. Obviously, Harden isn’t known as a defender, and isn’t a good one. But he’s a big guard who comfortably defends threes and fours. That’s where the Ellis acquisition has more synergy for them.

Cleveland still hasn’t even had Max Strus step onto the court. (I’m assuming that happens at some point soon after the All-Star break.) The Cavaliers’ moves may have been short-sighted, but they were intentional about doing them that way. Cleveland feels likelier to come out of the East after these deals, which makes them worth doing.

Overall deadline grade: A-

TIER THREE: Only eight teams win a round

9. Houston Rockets (32-19)

Did they get better? No, Houston was one of three teams to not make a move, and the team’s messaging following the deadline felt like an admission that this team didn’t feel there were any moves to take them from what they are now (a first-round underdog almost certain not to win more than a round) to where they want to be (true title contenders).

Overall deadline grade: N/A

10. Phoenix Suns (31-22)

Did they get better? No. Phoenix’s moves were salary ones around the edges. That’s fine. This season has been found gold for the Suns, anyway, and keeping it going as best they can will be a success.

Overall deadline grade: N/A

11. Philadelphia 76ers (30-22)

Did they get better? No, much to the rage of Philadelphia’s fanbase. Daryl Morey’s comments following the deadline, saying that Jared McCain was traded to facilitate another deal that didn’t happen, did not do much to calm them down. While McCain might have been out of the rotation for a fully healthy team in a playoff series, he was clearly able to help them right now, especially once factoring in Paul George’s 25-game suspension.

Overall deadline grade: C+

12. Los Angeles Lakers (32-19)

Did they get better? Yes, the Lakers acquired the league’s second-most accurate shooter in Luke Kennard, which should help the team’s weak 3-point shooting. (They have the 21st-best percentage behind the arc this season, which doesn’t mesh well with Luka Dončić, the best 3-point shot creator in the league.) Unfortunately, Los Angeles also needed to improve the team’s big man rotation and point-of-attack defense. All of that was too much to ask; they’ll have to settle for Kenanrd alone. Also, while one second-rounder isn’t a bad price to pay, it does stand out for being the only available one Los Angeles had left in its cubbards.

Overall deadline grade: B

13. Toronto Raptors (32-22)

Did they get better? No, not particularly. Toronto wasn’t able to move Quickley or Jakob Poeltl or R.J. Barrett, all rumored to be potentially moved. The team did trade Ochai Agbaji and obtain Trayce Jackson-Davis to protect against Poeltl currently being sidelined. Toronto’s season has been better than most expected, and waiting until this summer to begin reworking this roster at least allows this group to stay together through the year’s end.

Overall deadline grade: N/A

14. Charlotte Hornets (25-28)

Did they get better? Did they need to? Charlotte has roared up the standings and this power ranking, winning nine straight games, and now officially in the Play-In Tournament with time to move further up the standings. Oddly enough, they immediately got worse by trading for Coby White, only for him to be sidelined with a calf strain, but several other shrewd transactions also helped net them some free second rounders. Also, while White has a higher ceiling and is a bit younger than Sexton, it’s definitely not clear he’s been the better player this season. All things considered in Charlotte, the vibes are too good to doubt anything about this deadline, but it’s worth noting that.

Overall deadline grade: B+

15. Orlando Magic (27-24)

Did they get better? No, Orlando did nothing notable except offloading Tyus Jones, who had been one of the league’s least efficient rotation players all season, ensuring this weird season may not be turned around even upon Franz Wagner’s return.

Overall deadline grade: N/A

TIER FOUR: What’s left this year?

16. Golden State Warriors (28-25)

What did their deadline mean? Golden State saved us, at least temporarily, from the Jonathan Kuminga saga. The team dealt him for Kristaps Porzingis, who theoretically is a fantastic fit at center but more practically cannot be relied upon to be on the floor when Golden State needs him. Before Jimmy Butler’s injury, there was still a higher end ceiling for this team than several of those above them. Instead, they’re playing nothing more than spoilers.

Overall deadline grade: B-

17. Miami Heat (28-26)

What did their deadline mean? Miami was the third and final team not to make a single move. It’s awfully unclear which direction this team wants to take beyond aurafarming a superstar trade into existence through Heat culture alone.

Overall deadline grade: N/A

18. Portland Trail Blazers (25-28)

What did their deadline mean? Scoot Henderson finally returned for the Trail Blazers, which feels almost like a trade deadline acquisition alongside the team’s actual addition of Vit Krejci. Portland needs ball-handling and shooting; those two provide that. But Portland’s deadline was not meant to be much defining of its future, and isn’t.

Overall deadline grade: B

19. Atlanta Hawks (26-28)

What did their deadline mean? Atlanta made this season’s first trade, dealing Trae Young, which firmly reset this franchise around Jalen Johnson and the team’s young core. Trading away Porzingis, too, allowed them to cast away any aspersions this team is operating under a win-now status. Kuminga is an interesting choice, however, since it’s unlikely he’s going to get room to soar in a role any larger than “Johnson’s backup”. But it’s a one-year commitment that Atlanta can reassess this summer.

Overall deadline grade: B

20. LA Clippers (25-27)

What did their deadline mean? It meant Clippers blogger Robert Flom, and that Clippers’ run that enabled it, ate that paper for nothing. L.A. won’t try to lose this season, but this team is no longer operating to win at all costs, having concluded this team wasn’t going to contention even after this winning streak vaulted them temporarily up the standings. Darius Garland, Benedict Mathurin, and Isaiah Jackson now get the chance to mesh with Kawhi Leonard and for L.A.’s front office to decide whether what’s left of this roster is good enough to take into next season. If not, Leonard may certainly be a trade candidate. Still, these future-focused moves still leave multiple options open for them.

Overall deadline grade: B+

21. Dallas Mavericks (19-33)

What did their deadline mean? Dallas reset its future around Cooper Flagg, and Flagg alone, by moving Anthony Davis for a relatively cheap return. The Mavericks didn’t get valuable draft picks when trading him to the Washington Wizards, but they did reset the warchest. They also cleared money that will give them more flexibility to build around Flagg in whatever manner the front office, which could be led by someone new as soon as this summer, feels they should. In addition, by acquiring Tyus Jones, Dallas indicated that it does want to make sure Flagg has stability the rest of the season from a veteran point guard who can organize an offense.

Overall deadline grade: B+

22. Memphis Grizzlies (20-31)

What did their deadline mean? Memphis moved on from Jaren Jackson Jr. and began its organizational reset in earnest, which matters, but Ja Morant is still awkwardly hanging around — it’s not the team’s fault he has no league-wide value — and the Grizzlies might still be decent now that Ty Jerome has finally returned. Where Memphis goes this summer will be a massive, looming question about how quickly the team intends to try to contend again.

Overall deadline grade: B-

23. Chicago Bulls (24-29)

What did their deadline mean? Chicago finally chose a direction. Too late, perhaps, given these traded players had first-round valuations at points in the past. And it’s amusing how many guards Chicago has cluttered its roster with now: Sexton, Simons, Ivey, and Dillingham now join Josh Giddey and Tre Jones. Nick Richards and Guerschon Yabusele can now join Zach Collins in some sort of big man rotation. The rest of this season doesn’t matter; Chicago won’t be trying too hard to win, but there’s no chance to tumble fall enough to have anything but lottery ticket chances at a truly meaningful draft pick. But kudos to them for choosing a direction, at least.

Overall deadline grade: C+

TIER FIVE: How nasty does the tank get?

24. Milwaukee Bucks (21-29)

What did their deadline mean? I don’t fault Milwaukee for waiting until the summer to earnestly look to move Giannis Antetokounmpo, if that’s indeed what they do. Nobody wants to be the bad guy even if both sides keep hinting it’d be better not to stay together only for the kids. Anyway, they didn’t really do anything at the trade deadline, which is understandable but still frustrating in the broader picture.

Overall deadline grade: C

25. New Orleans Pelicans (14-40)

What did their deadline mean? New Orleans chose to stick with its roster, besides the margin move of Alvarado, despite having this season.

Overall deadline grade: D

26. Utah Jazz (16-37)

What did their deadline mean? Utah made its pre-agency trade, of sorts, by acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr. for next season. It’ll be a fascinating fit; we might not see it much the rest of this season as Utah desperately clings to its first-round pick, which is only protected if it falls within the lottery’s top-eight.

Overall deadline grade: B+

27. Indiana Pacers (13-40)

What did their deadline mean? Indiana struck for its center next year, and Ivica Zubac was the best available name on the market, which cost them. But for the Pacers to solve that roster gap prior to this season even ending is a reasonable choice. Zubac will make better passes and set better screens than Myles Turner ever did, and that’ll be one of the league’s most fascinating watches next year.

Overall deadline grade: A-

28. Brooklyn Nets (14-37)

What did their deadline mean? Brooklyn absorbed several bad contracts and didn’t trade Michael Porter Jr., which is defensive if one that I mildly disagree with. Overall, this deadline was a wash for them. Egor Demin looks great of late, though.

Overall deadline grade: N/A

29. Washington Wizards (14-38)

What did their deadline mean? Davis and Young were both buy-low acquisitions, but the worst outcome is that they disrupt the rebuilding process, take away shots or development from the Wizards’ actual prospects, and temporarily turn this team into one that wins 38 games while still needing a franchise cornerstone. There are happier ones, too, and Washington does not seem inclined to toss out lucrative extensions to either player, which is good. For how bad the Wizards have been, I’d like to see them play more meaningful basketball games soon. We’ll see whether this was the right combination of veterans to make that happen.

Overall deadline grade: B-

30. Sacramento Kings (12-42)

What did their deadline mean? Sacramento took a reasonable buy-low bet on De’Andre Hunter, but the team’s front office couldn’t find deals for any of the team’s beleaguered veterans. Again, it’s a tad bit harsh to blame this front office on deals from past regimes; the NBA does not want expensive veterans who might not even move the winning needle. But all of those old vets hanging around Sacramento again this season is a failure no matter how impossible it was to turn this roster over.

Overall deadline grade: C-

Tim Cato is ALLCITY’s national NBA writer currently based in Dallas. He can be reached at tcato@alldlls.com or on X at @tim_cato.