The NBA deadline is approaching, and player movement is in full force. The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers made headlines with the first blockbuster deal that saw Luka Doncic traded for Anthony Davis. A weak Western Conference should see conference teams making moves throughout the week. Here is a look at NBA team power rankings for Week 16.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City split last week’s matchups but enter the week as the top team in the NBA. Their youth continue to get big wins, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way. Monday’s tilt with Milwaukee will be a must-watch as the Thunder look for revenge against a Bucks team that easily defeated them in the Emirates NBA Cup final.
2. Houston Rockets
Houston continued their strong play and enter Week 16 with four-straight road matchups before ending the week at home versus Toronto. Houston’s one of the best teams at defending the perimeter and will continue to be a tough matchup against opposing Western Conference foes.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland finished the week with a perfect 4-0 record. Undoubtedly the top Eastern Conference team, the Cavaliers open the week against Boston. A win at home against the Celtics will continue Cleveland’s strong push to finish out the regular season.
4. Boston Celtics
Boston proved strong shooting the three last week and will need to stay out from deep as they hit the road versus Cleveland on Tuesday. The Celtics are positioning themselves for a strong finish to the season, and entering the postseason healthy will be the focus.
5. Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis’ defense is a concern, and their tough February schedule could be an issue. This week features matchups against San Antonio, Toronto, and Oklahoma City. Taking two of three is important as their schedule gets harder as the weeks move along.
6. New York Knicks
New York continues to be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Their story has been the same for most of the season: they play tough defense, and they win. Their losses have been impacted by shoddy defense, and this must be the focus as the season winds to a close.
7. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets continue to gain traction after a slow start to the season. This week’s winnable schedule features two games against New Orleans before facing Orlando at home and Phoenix on the road. Look for Denver to acquire a three-point sharpshooter at the deadline.
8. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers continue to be a tough matchup. However, their downfall has been issues with bottom-feeder teams. Outplaying bad opponents is a must, and Indiana must win early in the week against Utah and Portland before finishing the week against both Los Angeles teams.
9. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers have seen increased offensive production and continue their rise in the Western Conference standings. Look for the Clippers to finish strong before the All-Star break and improve the roster’s health before the twilight of the season begins.
10. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers enter Week 16 after making one of the biggest trades in recent memory. Los Angeles moved All-Star center Anthony Davis for superstar Luka Doncic. This gives the Lakers one of the brightest young stars in the league. Once healthy, Doncic provides the Lakers with another go-to option rather than shouldering most of the workload on James’ shoulders. However, the glaring question is, who will take over a huge void left at the center position?
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota finished a strong week, going 3-1. They enter Week 16 five games over .500 and their upcoming schedule features games against Sacramento, Chicago, Houston, and Portland. The key to a strong finish will be beating bad teams while, at the very minimum, splitting against top teams in the NBA.
12. Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis continues to carry the team on his back, but help is needed. The team needs to acquire additional help at the trade deadline as the team still sees a roller coaster of a season as the weeks progress. Should the workload take its toll on Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks could be headed for a first-round exit in the playoffs.
13. Dallas Mavericks
Say what you will about the Mavs moving Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, but Dallas filled a major void with a dominant big man. Doncic’s work ethic and injury concerns were undoubtedly a deciding factor in the front office deciding to move on and not offer another max deal. The Western Conference is weak compared to its Eastern Conference counterpart, and the Mavericks are now set to make a push for the Western Conference Finals.
14. Phoenix Suns
The weeks progress, and it is the same story in Phoenix: they have talent in their starting five, but their bench lacks depth. Due to this issue, the Suns continue to split their weekly schedule and will ultimately fail at reaching the Western Conference Finals.
15. Miami Heat
Given the trying season on the front office and roster, Miami continues to stay afloat. Disgruntled star Jimmy Butler wants out, and Miami wants to move him. However, Butler’s unwillingness to sign an extension put the kibosh on a deal that would’ve sent his services to Golden State. A deal is likely to happen by the deadline, and moving Butler should see Miami focused on the playoffs.
16. Golden State Warriors
Back at .500, and needing to make a move, the Warriors nearly landed Miami’s Jimmy Butler. However, Butler would not sign an extension, and Golden State decided to walk away from negotiations. The Warriors need to make a move before the deadline. If they do not, they may win a play-in game, but they will ultimately see an early exit to the playoffs.
17. Sacramento Kings
Sacramento made a splash in a deal that saw the team acquire Zach LaVine while trading superstar point guard De’Aaron Fox. The Kings had an atrocious start to the season but have rebounded after parting ways with head coach Mike Brown. The Kings have playoff aspirations but now lack a true point guard. Malik Monk is currently penciled in at PG, but the team needs a true point guard, or trouble will arise. A better option would be landing Delon Wright from the Milwaukee Bucks.
18. Detroit Pistons
Detroit currently sits in the play-in games but has the chance to lead frog Miami for the sixth spot in the East. Their season has done a 180 since a season ago, and fans have a new lease on life. The Pistons continue to be a tough matchup but need to continue their winning ways.
19. Portland Trail Blazers
Portland is four games out of a play-in spot and has a realistic chance of reaching the 10th spot in a weak Western Conference. This week and the trade deadline will be one to follow as this week’s schedule posts tough matchups against Phoenix, Indiana, Sacramento, and Minnesota. A bad week could see Portland set their eyes on a draft lottery spot.
20. San Antonio Spurs
Three games out of a play-in spot, the Spurs made headlines by acquiring De’Aaron Fox. The acquisition of Fox gives them an instant boost and brings Victor Wembanyama help. Watch for the Spurs to finish the season as one of the hottest teams in the league.
21. Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia’s season looked like a complete waste but now find themselves a game out of a play-in spot behind Chicago. The Bulls are headed for a complete teardown, and the 76ers should leap the 10th seed by the end of the week. Tyrese Maxey continues to be the team’s MVP, and the team’s finish will make things interesting.
22. Toronto Raptors
Toronto has played well of late, but this week’s schedule is hard to stomach. The Raptors face the New York Knicks, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Houston Rockets. Right when they looked primed for a late-season playoff run, an anvil has been tossed onto the schedule
23. Orlando Magic
A game and a half out of a play-in spot, the Magic have seen dwindled offensive production. Both Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are back in the starting lineup, and the team can make a playoff push as both players rid themselves of any rust.
24. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks currently own a play-in spot but continue to allow opponents to score a high number of points, especially via the three-point shot. The team is fun to watch offensively, but defense will continue to be their main issue.
25. Chicago Bulls
Chicago owns the last play-in spot, but this should change by week’s end. Zach LaVine is gone, and the Bulls will ultimately be looking for more assets in return for Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball. A rebuild is upon Chicago, but on the bright side, they reacquired their 2025 first-round pick from San Antonio, and the pick is top 10 protected. The Cooper Flagg sweepstakes start in one week.
26. New Orleans Pelicans
The long season, mainly due to injury, continues for New Orleans. A healthy roster is nowhere in sight, and now is the time to shut it down and look to the next season.
27. Utah Jazz
Utah currently sits with the second-best odds for the top pick in the NBA draft. The team has won 11 games, and the front office must decide if it’s best to start trading for assets. Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Collin Sexton should be hot commodities at the deadline.
28. Brooklyn Nets
It has been a tough season in Brooklyn. Injuries have taken their toll, and the team does not have the depth to wither any injuries. The best-case scenario would be winning the draft lottery.
29. Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte struggles with the three, and they are atrocious on defense. It’s a shame because they do have talented players but lack overall depth. The front office is focused on winning the draft lottery.
30. Washington Wizards
Washington has yet to reach double-digit wins and it’s becoming a strong possibility they will not by season’s end. They have the best odds at landing the number one overall pick, but is Washington a great landing spot for Cooper Flagg?