We’re approaching the last third of the 2021-22 NBA regular season, and we’re also at the regular season trade deadline. C.J. McCollum has been dealt from Portland to New Orleans, where he is unlikely to get much closer to a title than he would have with the Trail Blazers, while the Pelicans shipped away the promising Josh Hart.
We’re waiting for other deals to emerge, so let’s take a look at the latest power rankings, along with some of the top trades that have changed the NBA betting fortunes of the franchises.
NBA News: Updated Power Rankings
#1 Phoenix Suns (42-10)
Remember when Chris Paul got shipped to Oklahoma City? People (including this writer) thought he was washed up, but Paul turned back the clock, drove up his own value, and earned a trade to Phoenix. Since then, Paul has just led the Suns to the NBA Finals. Can they take the next step and earn rings?
#2 Golden State Warriors (40-13)
At the trade deadline two years ago, the Warriors shipped D’Angelo Russell to Minnesota for Andrew Wiggins and a draft pick that would bring them Jonathan Kuminga. Minnesota is still floundering, while Kuminga is coming on strong and Wiggins has become an All-Star starter.
#3 Memphis Grizzlies (37-18)
Mike Conley left town for Utah, which opened the door to a rebuild. Ja Morant came as the #2 pick, and Grayson Allen and Jae Crowder also helped the cause. Part of the Conley trade was a draft pick that is now Brandon Clarke, which has paid off, and now the Grizzlies are another elite contender.
#4 Miami Heat (34-20)
The top recent move for the Heat was getting Jimmy Butler from Philadelphia in a sign-and-trade deal for Josh Richardson. Butler bought into the Miami culture and started mentoring the young Heat – and now they might make the NBA Finals for the second time in three years.
#5 Milwaukee Bucks (34-21)
It cost the Bucks three first-round draft choices in the future and a pair of pick swaps, but the Bucks got a title. Holiday is a great third star with Giannis and Khris Middleton, contributing as a shutdown defender on the perimeter while creating plays for others and finding ways to get his own shot off.
#6 Chicago Bulls (33-20)
Another team that benefited from a Jimmy Butler trade was Chicago, who sent their franchise player to Minnesota and got Zach LaVine in return. It’s taken the team a while to coalesce around LaVine, but now the Bulls are near the top of the conference table.
#7 Philadelphia 76ers (32-21)
Can you imagine where this team would be if they didn’t have the Ben Simmons headache to deal with? Can you imagine where they would be if they had taken Jayson Tatum instead of Markelle Fultz in the 2017 draft? Even The Process has had its hiccups.
#8 Cleveland Cavaliers (33-21)
Sending Kyrie Irving to Boston did not yield much in the short term, but it included a draft choice would turn into Collin Sexton, who has spearheaded a youth movement in Cleveland that has them on the fringe of contention for a deep run, at least in the East bracket.
#9 Dallas Mavericks (31-23)
The Mavs traded up with Atlanta to get Luka Doncic, and the franchise is a contender again. The Hawks got Trae Young and then Cam Reddish the next year with the first-rounder they got from Dallas for the swap, but Dallas would redo that deal 10 times out of 10.
#10 Utah Jazz (32-21)
Donovan Mitchell came to town via the 13th overall pick as Utah moved up by shipping Tyler Lydon and Trey Lyles to Denver. Gordon Hayward would leave town for Boston, but Mitchell filled Hayward’s shoes nicely – and then some.
#11 Denver Nuggets (29-24)
The Nuggets made a bold move to get Aaron Gordon in from Orlando, as the Nuggets needed a third star to go along with Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic. Jokic is having an MVP-caliber season but Murray blew out an ACL just two weeks after Gordon came to town. When Murray is back, Denver could be elite, but for now they’re treading water.
#12 Brooklyn Nets (29-24)
It took a full year of Achilles tendon rehab, but Kevin Durant has made Brooklyn the talk of the Eastern Conference. It’s still not clear whether this Big Three will ever live up to its promise, as James Harden is now linked to a potential deal for Ben Simmons, but when those three are on, that is a terrific group to watch.
#13 Toronto Raptors (28-23)
It’s a shame the Raptors couldn’t keep Kawhi Leonard around after their shocking title. They still have some stout players, but they need a marquee star.
#14 Boston Celtics (30-25)
Boston was really the first team to go all-in on Kyrie Irving only to find out that he doesn’t bring stability to the table. Now Brooklyn is learning the same lesson.
#15 Minnesota Timberwolves (28-25)
D’Angelo Russell is still plugging away for the Timberwolves, but they’re miles from contention at this point.
#16 Atlanta Hawks (25-28)
Atlanta has been struggling to get back to the form they showed a couple of postseasons ago. Can Trae Young make Atlanta a contender with John Collins defending the rim? He hasn’t yet, but he’s still young, and he needs another star with him.
#17 Charlotte Hornets (28-26)
Kemba Walker has not been able to play much since he left town for Boston, so the Hornets should be glad they didn’t give him a max deal. LaMelo Ball is looking like the real deal, and the Hornets could be the East’s next big thing.
#18 L.A. Clippers (27-28)
Right now, the Clippers are spinning their wheels waiting for Kawhi to get through ACL rehab and contend next season. In the meantime, Paul George continues to shine, and the Clippers just brought in Robert Covington and Norman Powell to add to next year’s contender.
#19 L.A. Lakers (26-28)
Yes, LeBron and AD delivered a title to Hollywood in their first season together. Getting back has been problematic despite adding Carmelo and Russell Westbrook to the mix. How many stars does King James need around him?
#20 Washington Wizards (24-28)
Bringing Russell Westbrook to town helped the Wizards, as he got them to the playoffs – and getting him out of town helped too, as Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell all came to DC as a result.
#21 N.Y. Knicks (24-29)
Sending Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas for two first-round draft picks gave the Knicks two more opportunities to whiff…the Knicks have not signed a first-round draft choice to a second contract in more than 25 years.
#22 New Orleans Pelicans (21-32)
Josh Hart, a starter who came to town in the Anthony Davis deal, has now headed to Portland in exchange for CJ McCollum. This is still a building team, around Zion Williamson’s potential, and we’ll see what McCollum adds.
#23 San Antonio Spurs (20-34)
The rebuilding carousel is taking time in the Alamo City; sending Kawhi away brought DeMar DeRozan, who is now in Chicago, but it also brought Jakob Poeltl, who is the starting big man for Greg Popovich.
#24 Portland Trail Blazers (21-33)
Curiously, the Trail Blazers are looking to drop salary around Damian Lillard and try to rebuild around one star. They dumped salary by shipping Robert Covington and Norman Powell down the coast to Los Angeles. Will Lillard request a trade next?
#25 Indiana Pacers (19-36)
Domantas Sabonis went to the All-Star Game twice as a Pacer, and now that he is out of town, the Pacers’ rebuild grind continues.
#26 Sacramento Kings (20-35)
The Kings could have added Donovan Mitchell in 2017 to join De’Aaron Fox in the backcourt. Instead, they added Justin Jackson and Harry Giles. Mitchell, we can say, has done well in Utah, while Giles is out of the league and Jackson is on his sixth team.
#27 Oklahoma City Thunder (17-35)
The Thunder shipped Paul George to the Clippers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a possible franchise player, and FIVE first-round draft picks, along with forward Danilo Gallinari. A fleecing, you could say.
#28 Houston Rockets (15-38)
Houston used to have Chris Paul and James Harden. Then Harden wanted Paul gone and wanted Russell Westbrook in. He came to town for a season, then they both wanted out. All the Rockets had left was John Wall’s ridiculous contract.
#29 Orlando Magic (12-43)
How’s the latest rebuild doing? Rookies Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner are on the rise…for now.
#30 Detroit Pistons (12-41)
Another member of the Full Rebuild society, but the good news is that the only way out is up.
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