[The Athletic] NBA 实力榜:尼克斯、凯尔特人跻身争冠梯队;截止日后阵容重组

By Law Murray | The Athletic, 2026-02-09 17:32:47

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本周推荐专辑:“Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana”,Bad Bunny (2023)

坏痞兔 (Bad Bunny) 本周末参加了超级碗。我想到了他的歌 “Un Preview,”,他在歌词里写道(我引述如下):

Y si tú quiere nos hacemo jevo
Sé que tú ere peligro, pero yo me atrevo

这些歌词的部分意思大致可以翻译为:“我知道你很危险,但我敢于挑战。”这或许也是许多 NBA 球队在交易季的心声。

谁能想到坏痞兔能为 NBA 交易截止日提供这样的智慧。谢天谢地,截止日终于过去了,但在截止日前的一周内,联盟出现了创纪录的 28 笔交易,涉及 73 名球员。在我 12 月份的交易观察名单中,有 14 人被交易;而上周模拟图中的 13 名目标球员现在也穿上了新球衣。在全明星赛前我们还有一期实力榜,所以让我们先来看看这些新阵容的雏形。

注:本实力榜不仅仅是对每支球队进行排名。我们将保留各球队晋级或降级的梯队体系。每周将分为五个梯队:

  • 顶级争冠热门 (Top Contenders) —— 固定为五支,是联盟的佼佼者
  • 处境稳健 (In a Good Place) —— 可能是一支球队,也可能是七支
  • 季后赛边缘 (The Bubble) —— 不要与迪士尼园区的“泡泡”混淆。指中游球队
  • 并非畏途 (Not the Tier to Fear) —— 并非打得全联盟最烂,但仍有很多工作要做
  • 垫底区 (Basement Floor) —— 敬陪末座

关于实力榜的预期:

  • 这些是我的主观排名。我会参考各种客观指标,但最终由我决定。
  • 这些排名不只是对过去一周的回顾——我们也带有预见性,所以它是两者的结合。
  • 排名是主观的,但没有偏见。实力榜中不带个人目的,我们力求建立一个包容的精英评价体系。
  • 本排名拥有的一个特质:“残酷的侵略性”。
  • 请享受比赛,也请享受这份榜单!

在第 17 周的 The Athletic NBA 实力榜中,我们将探讨每支球队在交易截止日后的阵容调整。胜负记录和其他统计数据截至上周日的比赛。


第一梯队:顶级争冠热门 (Top Contenders)

1. 俄克拉荷马城雷霆 (Oklahoma City Thunder) (40-13)

上期排名: 1
过去一周: 胜奥兰多魔术,负圣安东尼奥马刺,负休斯顿火箭
进攻效率: 117.7(第 4) 防守效率: 105.9(第 1)

阵容调整: 得分后卫 贾里德·麦凯恩 (Jared McCain)

好消息:我们有了一支达成“40胜20负前”定律的球队!五年前,我曾写过一篇关于“40胜20负前”争冠地位的小故事,该理论认为顶级强队应该在遭遇 20 场失利前拿到 40 场胜利。密尔沃基雄鹿在 2021 年打破了这一规律,但过去四年的总冠军都达成了这一壮举,包括去年的雷霆。正如你在这些排名中所见,本赛季这份名单可能很短。坏消息:这支雷霆队可能正处于榜首的最后一周。雷霆近两个月表现平平,虽然 杰伦·威廉姆斯 (Jalen Williams) 即将回归,但 谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大 (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) 腹部受伤严重,将缺席本周比赛和全明星周末。麦凯恩来到了这里,他可以和同样体型偏小的得分后卫、也是费城选秀出身的 伊赛亚·乔 (Isaiah Joe) 聊聊被 达里尔·莫雷 (Daryl Morey) 放弃的心路历程。

2. 底特律活塞 (Detroit Pistons) (38-13)

上期排名: 2
过去一周: 胜丹佛掘金,负华盛顿奇才,胜纽约尼克斯
进攻效率: 116.4(第 11) 防守效率: 108.4(第 2)

阵容调整: 得分后卫 凯文·赫尔特 (Kevin Huerter)

如果活塞没有在主场意外败给奇才,他们本周本可以领跑榜单。那是自 凯尔·库兹马 (Kyle Kuzma) 喊出别成为输给我们的那支球队以来,奇才对活塞取得的最大胜利。那场糟糕的失利被对阵掘金和尼克斯的精彩胜利所包围,而在击败尼克斯的比赛中,活塞本赛季第二次以超过 30 分的分差击败了去年的季后赛对手。底特律的深度惊人。 杰登·艾维 (Jaden Ivey) 被交易走,引进了赫尔特,而赫尔特需要时间才能在 丹尼斯·詹金斯 (Daniss Jenkins) 等被提拔的球员面前争取到轮换时间。

3. 圣安东尼奥马刺 (San Antonio Spurs) (36-16)

上期排名: 3
过去一周: 胜俄克拉荷马城雷霆,胜达拉斯独行侠,胜达拉斯独行侠
进攻效率: 116.5(第 10) 防守效率: 111.1(第 3)

阵容调整: 大前锋 哈里森·巴恩斯 (Harrison Barnes)

马刺正试图模仿新英格兰爱国者。也就是说,一支在 21 世纪大部分时间占据统治地位、在 2020 年代陷入困境、但现在正重返巅峰的球队。马刺对他们的 15 人标准合同阵容没做任何改动,自常规赛开始以来一直如此。圣安东尼奥已经开始让巴恩斯担任替补,这是他自十年前离开金州勇士以来首次担任替补。不过马刺并不需要引援。 斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) 刚刚拿到了 40 分的三双,马刺本赛季已经四次击败雷霆。这次他们甚至避免了赢下雷霆后的常规性低迷。

4. 纽约尼克斯 (New York Knicks) (34-19)

上期排名: 6
过去一周: 胜华盛顿奇才,胜丹佛掘金,负底特律活塞,胜波士顿凯尔特人
进攻效率: 118.6(第 3) 防守效率: 113.1(第 11)

阵容调整: 控球后卫 豪塞·阿尔瓦拉多 (Jose Alvarado)

“神偷”阿尔瓦拉多在《侠盗猎车手 6》发售前抢先回到了纽约。尼克斯基本上是用 盖尔雄·亚布塞莱 (Guerschon Yabusele) 换取了一些控卫深度,他们确实需要这个,因为 迈尔斯·麦克布莱德 (Miles McBride) 可能因运动疝气手术缺席剩余常规赛。纽约在底特律吃到了闭门羹,但除此之外他们近 10 场赢了 9 场,并在波士顿取得了一场大胜,为这一周画上了句号,其间尼克斯还在双加时中击败了掘金。

5. 波士顿凯尔特人 (Boston Celtics) (34-19)

上期排名: 8
过去一周: 胜达拉斯独行侠,胜休斯顿火箭,胜迈阿密热火,负纽约尼克斯
进攻效率: 120.0(第 2) 防守效率: 112.7(第 9)

阵容调整: 中锋 尼古拉·武切维奇 (Nikola Vučević)

凯尔特人在主场负于尼克斯之前取得了 13 战 10 胜。波士顿送走了 安芬尼·西蒙斯 (Anfernee Simons)、 哈维尔·蒂尔曼 (Xavier Tillman)、 乔什·米诺特 (Josh Minott) 和 克里斯·布歇 (Chris Boucher),换来了武切维奇,他还需要一些时间来适应。在逆转迈阿密热火 22 分的比赛中,武切维奇拿到了两双,但在周日对阵尼克斯的比赛中,他在场上的 24 分钟内波士顿输了 24 分。 佩顿·普里查德 (Payton Pritchard) 现在也回到了替补席,基本上取代了西蒙斯作为第六人的角色。

第二梯队:处境稳健 (In a Good Place)

6. 丹佛掘金 (Denver Nuggets) (34-19)

上期排名: 4
过去一周: 负底特律活塞,负纽约尼克斯,胜芝加哥公牛
进攻效率: 121.0(第 1) 防守效率: 116.8(第 24)

阵容调整: 小前锋 斯宾塞·琼斯 (Spencer Jones)

掘金在过去两年里都不是交易大户,今年也是如此。掘金所做的只是把 亨特·泰森 (Hunter Tyson) 的合同甩给了布鲁克林。但这一举动是必要的,因为它让琼斯获得了提拔。 凯旋·约翰逊 (Cameron Johnson) 回归了,但 阿隆·戈登 (Aaron Gordon) 再次受伤, 佩顿·沃特森 (Peyton Watson) 本月也将加入伤兵名单。丹佛拥有全联盟最强的进攻,但其防守在强队中垫底,掘金全员健康的假设或许并不靠谱。

7. 休斯顿火箭 (Houston Rockets) (32-19)

上期排名: 5
过去一周: 胜印第安纳步行者,负波士顿凯尔特人,负夏洛特黄蜂,胜俄克拉荷马城雷霆
进攻效率: 117.3(第 5) 防守效率: 112.2(第 6)

阵容调整: 小前锋 凯文·杜兰特 (Kevin Durant)

火箭本周的表现阴晴不定,既赢下了一些比分胶着的比赛,又在主场背靠背对阵东部球队时惨遭吊打。 伊梅·乌度卡 (Ime Udoka) 不得不再次点名批评 阿尔佩伦·申京 (Alperen Şengün) 松散的防守,这已成为乌度卡执教期间的常态。但休斯顿并未对标准合同阵容做任何改动。毕竟,这支球队在这个休赛期通过一笔七队大交易才得到并续约了杜兰特,结果 弗雷德·范弗利特 (Fred VanVleet) 遭遇十字韧带撕裂, 史蒂文·亚当斯 (Steven Adams) 赛季报销, 多里安·芬尼-史密斯 (Dorian Finney-Smith) 在脚踝手术后也显得大不如前。

8. 克利夫兰骑士 (Cleveland Cavaliers) (32-21)

上期排名: 10
过去一周: 胜洛杉矶快船,胜萨克拉门托国王
进攻效率: 117.2(第 6) 防守效率: 113.4(第 13)

阵容调整: 控球后卫 詹姆斯·哈登 (James Harden)

头号目标!当骑士把 德安德烈·亨特 (De’Andre Hunter) 送到萨克拉门托以换取 丹尼斯·施罗德 (Dennis Schröder) 和 基翁·埃利斯 (Keon Ellis) 的较小合同时,就能感觉到他们另有图谋。果不其然,克利夫兰又撤下了一块户外广告牌。即便哈登的首秀只是在萨克拉门托惊险取胜,骑士本年春天的上限有了哈登(而非 达里厄斯·加兰 (Darius Garland))后显然更高了,前提是剩下的“核心”骑士球员能各司其职。哈登的任务并不是上场单打独斗统治季后赛,哈登来到这里是为了让 多诺万·米切尔 (Donovan Mitchell)、 埃文·莫布里 (Evan Mobley) 和 贾莱特·阿伦 (Jarrett Allen) 的工作变得更轻松。

第三梯队:季后赛边缘 (The Bubble)

9. 洛杉矶湖人 (Los Angeles Lakers) (32-19)

上期排名: 11
过去一周: 胜布鲁克林篮网,胜费城 76 人,胜金州勇士
进攻效率: 116.5(第 9) 防守效率: 116.5(第 22)

阵容调整: 得分后卫 卢克·肯纳德 (Luke Kennard)

作为一个整体,湖人的统计数据并不亮眼;有 15 支球队的净胜分更高。但就个人而言,你总是不能忽视他们。 卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Dončić) 领跑联盟得分榜,但他又遭遇了软组织受伤。 勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 是历史得分王,但他已经 41 岁了,正努力争取打满 65 场比赛。 奥斯汀·里夫斯 (Austin Reaves) 刚刚归队,目前由于时间限制出任替补。尼科·哈里森 (Nico Harrison) 不再掌管球队后,湖人在交易截止日的动作很小,用 盖布·文森特 (Gabe Vincent) 换来了肯纳德。不过洛杉矶在过去 11 场比赛中赢了 8 场。湖人很好地将他们的负面特质控制在单场比赛中,而不是演变成连败,他们已经三周没有连败了。

Ayo Dosunmu had 11 points off the bench in his Minnesota Timberwolves debut.阿约·多孙穆在明尼苏达森林狼的首秀中替补登场拿下 11 分。(Bruce Kluckhohn / Imagn Images)

10. 明尼苏达森林狼 (Minnesota Timberwolves) (32-22)

上期排名: 7
过去一周: 负孟菲斯灰熊,胜多伦多猛龙,负新奥尔良鹈鹕,负洛杉矶快船
进攻效率: 116.6(第 8) 防守效率: 112.8(第 10)

阵容调整: 得分后卫 阿约·多孙穆 (Ayo Dosunmu)

森林狼终于在加拿大赢了一场球,因此保住了前十的位置。但球队的能量再次出现了偏差,过去四场输了三场。在那之前他们曾取得四连胜,但 1 月份也曾遭遇五连败。输给快船的比赛相当令人不安,因为快船在来到明尼托卡湖之前已经输了一个星期。明尼苏达放弃了 罗布·迪林厄姆 (Rob Dillingham),换来了处于合同年的得分后卫多孙穆,他将主要承担 尼基尔·亚历山大-沃克 (Nickeil Alexander-Walker) 此前的角色。

11. 多伦多猛龙 (Toronto Raptors) (32-22)

上期排名: 12
过去一周: 负明尼苏达森林狼,胜芝加哥公牛,胜印第安纳步行者
进攻效率: 114.0(第 16) 防守效率: 112.1(第 5)

阵容调整: 中锋 戴维斯·贝坦斯 (Trayce Jackson-Davis)

克里斯·保罗 (Chris Paul) 来了!开玩笑的。就像上赛季的 P.J. 塔克 (P.J. Tucker) 一样,快船在本月早些时候将保罗交易过来,而猛龙可能会留住他一段时间,然后不可避免地将其裁掉,大概是为了保证保罗有资格参加季后赛。多伦多在此过程中送走了 奥查伊·阿巴吉 (Ochai Agbaji)。对猛龙更有意义的举动是获得杰克逊-戴维斯,为他们提供了另一个中锋选择。由于 雅各布·珀尔特尔 (Jakob Poeltl) 因背伤缺席了过去两个月的大部分时间,多伦多一直让 6 英尺 7 英寸的乐透新秀 柯林·默里-博伊尔斯 (Collin Murray-Boyles) 出任首发中锋,虽然珀尔特尔正在恢复,但默里-博伊尔斯的投篮手拇指又受伤了。

12. 费城 76 人 (Philadelphia 76ers) (30-22)

上期排名: 13
过去一周: 胜洛杉矶快船,胜金州勇士,负洛杉矶湖人,胜菲尼克斯太阳
进攻效率: 115.4(第 13) 防守效率: 113.8(第 14)

阵容调整: 大前锋 多米尼克·巴洛 (Dominick Barlow)

达里尔·莫雷表示,他在麦凯恩价值最高时将其卖出,并且东部没有球队真正改变了竞争格局,尽管他以前的分析学伙伴哈登加盟了克利夫兰。除此之外,林肯夫人……76 人自己的操作也没有改变竞争格局。 埃里克·戈登 (Eric Gordon) 的合同被甩给了孟菲斯。但费城打得不错。巴洛获得了提拔,这是他应得的,因为巴洛的首发次数比除了后卫 VJ·埃奇康比 (VJ Edgecombe) 和全明星 泰雷斯·马克西 (Tyrese Maxey) 之外的任何人都多。 乔尔·恩比德 (Joel Embiid) 是自 1 月 16 日以来 NBA 的得分王,考虑到两年前此时他每分钟就能得到一分,这真是一个惊人的转变。

13. 金州勇士 (Golden State Warriors) (28-25)

上期排名: 14
过去一周: 负费城 76 人,胜菲尼克斯太阳,负洛杉矶湖人
进攻效率: 114.3(第 15) 防守效率: 112.2(第 7)

阵容调整: 中锋 克里斯塔普斯·波尔津吉斯 (Kristaps Porziņģis)

他们终于送走了 乔纳森·库明加 (Jonathan Kuminga)。兄弟,我们还没怎么了解你呢。波尔津吉斯加盟,实际上他的职业生涯季后赛登场次数 (28) 比库明加 (34) 还要少。波尔津吉斯最好的部分大概是他那份即将到期的 3070 万美元合同,我相信这能让勇士在讨论下一个能给 斯蒂芬·库里 (Stephen Curry) 最后一搏机会的球星时,依然保有一席之地。与此同时,在全明星赛后波尔津吉斯能否连续出战两周之前,他们完全缺乏可靠的内线进攻。

14. 菲尼克斯太阳 (Phoenix Suns) (31-22)

上期排名: 9
过去一周: 胜波特兰开拓者,负金州勇士,负费城 76 人
进攻效率: 114.5(第 14) 防守效率: 112.3(第 8)

阵容调整: 小前锋 阿米尔·科菲 (Amir Coffey)

太阳可能把 杰伦·格林 (Jalen Green) 视为他们最大的交易补充。毕竟格林本赛季总共只打了 86 分钟,其中只有 47 分钟是与 德文·布克 (Devin Booker) 共同在场(提醒一下,在这 47 分钟里,太阳净胜对手 40 分)。与此同时,科菲来了, 科尔·安东尼 (Cole Anthony) 也算来了, 尼克·理查兹 (Nick Richards) 和 奈杰尔·海耶斯-戴维斯 (Nigel Hayes-Davis)(已被裁)则被太阳交易走了。科菲去年在快船投进了 101 个三分,命中率为 40.9%,但本赛季他三分球 25 投仅 7 中(28%)。也许安东尼正在努力确保菲尼克斯不再出现 格雷格·安东尼 (Greg Anthony) 1993 年停赛那样的麻烦……

15. 迈阿密热火 (Miami Heat) (28-26)

上期排名: 16
过去一周: 负亚特兰大老鹰,负波士顿凯尔特人,胜华盛顿奇才
进攻效率: 113.7(第 18) 防守效率: 111.7(第 4)

阵容调整: 控球后卫 特里·罗齐尔 (Terry Rozier)

在赛季中期送走 吉米·巴特勒 (Jimmy Butler) 一年后,热火本赛季没有进行交易。他们依然保留着罗齐尔,这位效力 11 年的老将在合同最后一年拿到了 2600 万美元。罗齐尔下个月就 32 岁了,他整个赛季都没上场,但在联盟最初因他面临联邦赌博指控将其停薪后,他现在将获得全额薪水。至于场上表现,迈阿密已经四周没有出现过三连胜或三连败了。

16. 夏洛特黄蜂 (Charlotte Hornets) (25-28)

上期排名: 18
过去一周: 胜新奥尔良鹈鹕,胜休斯顿火箭,胜亚特兰大老鹰
进攻效率: 117.1(第 7) 防守效率: 114.9(第 17)

阵容调整: 控球后卫 科比·怀特 (Coby White)

准备好爆米花吧!黄蜂已经取得了九连胜,他们将在周一对阵东部第一的活塞时延续这一势头。黄蜂上一次取得十连胜时,戴尔·库里 (Dell Curry) 还在队里打球,而斯蒂芬·库里还没满 10 岁。如果怀特不是带着伤病加盟,这对黄蜂来说会更令人兴奋。他正受小腿伤势困扰,他是取代 柯林·塞克斯顿 (Collin Sexton) 来到这里的。尽管处于连胜中,黄蜂在东部仍仅排在第十,但 拉梅洛·鲍尔 (LaMelo Ball)、 布兰登·米勒 (Brandon Miller)、 康·克努佩尔 (Kon Knueppel)、 迈尔斯·布里奇斯 (Miles Bridges) 和 穆萨·迪亚巴特 (Moussa Diabaté) 的首发阵容表现极其出色。

17. 奥兰多魔术 (Orlando Magic) (27-24)

上期排名: 15
过去一周: 负俄克拉荷马城雷霆,胜布鲁克林篮网,胜犹他爵士
进攻效率: 113.4(第 21) 防守效率: 114.1(第 15)

阵容调整: 控球后卫 杰文·卡特 (Jevon Carter)

魔术在截止日总是悄无声息,而且他们也快到总是令人失望的境地了。总有人缺席,或者投不进篮,或者怀疑自己丢掉了某种身份特质。 弗朗茨·瓦格纳 (Franz Wagner) 在过去两个月里只打了两场比赛。 保罗·班凯罗 (Paolo Banchero) 去年秋天缺席了 23 天。 杰伦·萨格斯 (Jalen Suggs) 在入冬初期的六周里缺席了大部分比赛。阵容缺乏稳定性令人精疲力竭,然后他们在赛季中期继续在阵容调整上保持沉默。 泰厄斯·琼斯 (Tyus Jones) 离队,卡特加盟。卡特显然是一个更主动的射手和更具破坏力的防守者,但魔术需要核心球员健康,才能正确评估这套阵容。

第四梯队:并非畏途 (Not the Tier to Fear)

18. 洛杉矶快船 (LA Clippers) (25-27)

上期排名: 17
过去一周: 负费城 76 人,负克利夫兰骑士,胜萨克拉门托国王,胜明尼苏达森林狼
进攻效率: 115.6(第 12) 防守效率: 115.8(第 20)

阵容调整: 控球后卫 达里厄斯·加兰 (Darius Garland)

一周前,快船在六周的时间跨度内拥有全联盟最佳战绩,取得 17 胜 4 负,在 卡怀·莱昂纳德 (Kawhi Leonard) 和詹姆斯·哈登共同在场的时间里占据绝对统治地位。随后快船和哈登分道扬镳, 伊维察·祖巴茨 (Ivica Zubac) 也被交易。莱昂纳德的状态笼罩着这一切。目前莱昂纳德仍保持高水准,快船即将为他配上极具潜力的新生代:两届全明星加兰,以及 2026 年受限制自由球员(也是快船新的罚球“收割机”) 本内迪克特·马图林 (Bennedict Mathurin)。或许最重要的是,快船希望印第安纳步行者在今年春天的抽签中铩羽而归。洛杉矶一个多月来首次遭遇背靠背失利,但在超级碗前客场大胜全员健康的明尼苏达后,他们有机会在全明星周末前将胜率拉回到 50%。

19. 亚特兰大老鹰 (Atlanta Hawks) (26-28)

上期排名: 19
过去一周: 胜迈阿密热火,胜犹他爵士,负夏洛特黄蜂
进攻效率: 113.8(第 17) 防守效率: 114.7(第 16)

阵容调整: 小前锋 乔纳森·库明加 (Jonathan Kuminga)

波尔津吉斯在亚特兰大的时代就此结束,满打满算只有 17 场。如果你以为波尔津吉斯和 特雷·杨 (Trae Young) 的组合能让老鹰本赛季变得有趣,那我必须告诉你,两人总共只在一起打了 51 分钟,而在这些分钟里老鹰丢了 157 分。现在库明加来到了这里,他要到全明星赛后才会登场,他的角色将非常引人关注。亚特兰大用 2024 年状元签选了 扎卡里·里萨谢 (Zaccharie Risacher),但他并无进步。由于老鹰在首发大前锋位置上拥有全明星级别的 杰伦·约翰逊 (Jalen Johnson),且首发阵容不需要更多不稳定的投篮,库明加看起来会从替补打起,作为第二阵容中 C.J. 麦科勒姆 (CJ McCollum) 和 柯瑞·基斯珀特 (Corey Kispert) 的补充。

维特·克雷伊奇在本赛季为开拓者出战的三场比赛中场均得到 8.7 分。(Soobum Im / Imagn Images)

20. 波特兰开拓者 (Portland Trail Blazers) (25-28)

上期排名: 21
过去一周: 负菲尼克斯太阳,胜孟菲斯灰熊,胜孟菲斯灰熊
进攻效率: 113.2(第 23) 防守效率: 115.4(第 18)

阵容调整: 小前锋 维特·克雷伊奇 (Vit Krejčí)

波特兰正重获健康, 斯库特·亨德森 (Scoot Henderson) 在因腿筋撕裂缺席了前 51 场比赛后迎来了赛季首秀。虽然久疏战阵的生锈感明显,但天赋也同样耀眼,亨德森抢下 5 个篮板并送出 9 次助攻,帮助波特兰大胜灰熊。至于实际的交易动作,克雷伊奇取代了受伤的 杜普·里斯 (Duop Reath) 成为另一个侧翼射手。波特兰需要灰熊送来的这份“温暖”来终结六连败。

21. 密尔沃基雄鹿 (Milwaukee Bucks) (21-29)

上期排名: 24
过去一周: 胜芝加哥公牛,胜新奥尔良鹈鹕,胜印第安纳步行者
进攻效率: 113.0(第 24) 防守效率: 116.6(第 23)

阵容调整: 大前锋 乌斯曼·吉昂 (Ousmane Dieng)

扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo) 还在。我们甚至不想去评价他本赛季何时或是否会再次上场,所以让我们直接看看新球员。吉昂是一名乐透秀,但他需要时间才能进入 里弗斯 (Doc Rivers) 的轮换。他取代了科菲。密尔沃基没有留住海耶斯-戴维斯,而是引进了 卡姆·托马斯 (Cam Thomas) 来取代安东尼。也行吧。这在理论上补充了进攻天赋,对雄鹿来说这些尝试并不算糟。但如果这就是扬尼斯回归后要搭档的团队,我可以肯定地说,乔丹·贝尔福特式的交易传闻会在四个月内再次抬头。

22. 芝加哥公牛 (Chicago Bulls) (24-29)

上期排名: 19
过去一周: 负密尔沃基雄鹿,负多伦多猛龙,负丹佛掘金
进攻效率: 113.7(第 19) 防守效率: 117.5(第 25)

阵容调整: 控球后卫 安芬尼·西蒙斯 (Anfernee Simons)

史上最滑稽的交易截止日。怀特被交易走了,但这支球队的持球后卫现在包括西蒙斯、艾维、塞克斯顿、迪林厄姆,以及留队的 约什·吉迪 (Josh Giddey) 和 特雷·琼斯 (Tre Jones)。公牛甚至给了 麦克·麦克朗 (Mac McClung) 另一份双向合同,刚好让他参加全明星周末,尽管他们已经有了签下双向合同的 河村勇辉 (Yuki Kawamura)。为什么这么多这类球员都在同一支球队?!公牛已经两周多没赢过热火以外的球队了,甚至热火在那之后也赢了他们两次,我都不确定我们每年一度的热火在附加赛痛宰公牛的戏码今年 4 月还会不会上演。我本来想把芝加哥排得更低,但剩下的排名已经被那些不加掩饰的摆烂区球队占满了。

23. 孟菲斯灰熊 (Memphis Grizzlies) (20-31)

上期排名: 22
过去一周: 胜明尼苏达森林狼,胜萨克拉门托国王,负波特兰开拓者,负波特兰开拓者
进攻效率: 113.2(第 22) 防守效率: 115.4(第 19)

阵容调整: 大前锋 泰勒·亨德里克斯 (Taylor Hendricks)

他们把 贾伦·杰克逊 (Jaren Jackson Jr.) 交易走了!我想过他们可能会这样做,但我没想到杰克逊是这笔八人交易中唯一离队的首发级别球员。杰克逊不仅仅是首发,他还是上赛季的全明星,刚刚签了大合同,而且他不顾休赛期的脚趾手术,硬是在赛季揭幕战首发出场。无论如何,孟菲斯现在拥有大量未来的首轮选秀权,甚至通过交易得到了前乐透秀新秀合同球员亨德里克斯,以及首轮新秀后卫 沃尔特·克莱顿 (Walter Clayton Jr.)。前灰熊球员 凯尔·安德森 (Kyle Anderson) 回归,主要是为了更衣室氛围。由于灰熊正稳居西部倒数前五,他们确实需要这些。

24. 达拉斯独行侠 (Dallas Mavericks) (19-33)

上期排名: 23
过去一周: 负波士顿凯尔特人,负圣安东尼奥马刺,负圣安东尼奥马刺
进攻效率: 110.3(第 27) 防守效率: 113.2(第 12)

阵容调整: 小前锋 克里斯·米德尔顿 (Khris Middleton)

我以为我不会再吐槽这群把东契奇送到湖人的家伙了。但是不,让我再提最后一次。东契奇在 2024 年季后赛打了 900 分钟,一直打到总决赛。然后他们用东契奇换来了 安东尼·戴维斯 (Anthony Davis),结果戴维斯在独行侠常规赛总共只打了 892 分钟。更有意思的是,达拉斯送走戴维斯后换回的最佳球员是 贾森·基德 (Jason Kidd) 的前部下米德尔顿和 马文·巴格利 (Marvin Bagley III)。就是那个在 2018 年选秀顺位比东契奇高一位的巴格利。至少达拉斯这次拿到了几个首轮签。 库珀·弗拉格 (Cooper Flagg) 表现神勇,但独行侠已经两周多没赢过球了。

25. 布鲁克林篮网 (Brooklyn Nets) (14-37)

上期排名: 27
过去一周: 负洛杉矶湖人,负奥兰多魔术,胜华盛顿奇才
进攻效率: 110.5(第 26) 防守效率: 118.0(第 26)

阵容调整: 小前锋 奥查伊·阿巴吉 (Ochai Agbaji)

阿巴吉通过交易加盟而卡姆·托马斯不再留在篮网,这算是我上周最接近命中的具体交易了。且不说阿巴吉是通过涉及保罗的三队交易加盟的,或者托马斯是直接被裁掉的。对于布鲁克林这支只需要另一名愿意防守的球员的球队来说,阿巴吉是一次合理的尝试,而托马斯看起来永远不会在篮网做到这一点。托马斯不是唯一离队的球员。 海伍德·海史密斯 (Haywood Highsmith) 在去年 8 月被交易到篮网后从未代表球队出战, 泰雷斯·马丁 (Tyrese Martin) 在被裁前在布鲁克林首发了 17 场。泰森在从丹佛被交易来后也被裁掉了,而篮网似乎留住了从波士顿来的米诺特。

第五梯队:垫底区 (Basement Floor)

26. 华盛顿奇才 (Washington Wizards) (14-38)

上期排名: 26
过去一周: 负纽约尼克斯,胜底特律活塞,负布鲁克林篮网,负迈阿密热火
进攻效率: 109.4(第 29) 防守效率: 120.2(第 29)

阵容调整: 大前锋 安东尼·戴维斯 (Anthony Davis)

这个梯队的表现将是联盟本赛季余下时间的污点。奇才上赛季输了 64 场,结果只拿到了 6 号签,所以我并不怪他们把 布拉德利·比尔 (Bradley Beal) 和 约翰·沃尔 (John Wall) 变成了杨和戴维斯。几年前我曾写过一篇文章,为戴维斯和莱昂纳德受到的“穿便装打球”的冷嘲热讽辩护,好吧,奇才余下赛季的队服干脆换成便装得了。我并不会对摆烂感到愤慨,因为这一切终会扯平。一个组织要么知道如何打造赢球的产品,要么不知道,而文化是其中重要的一部分。我们将看看杨和戴维斯在一群优秀新秀核心中能做些什么,以及华盛顿能否继续增加年轻人储备。但在本赛季剩下的时间里,我不觉得我非看杨或戴维斯不可。让 巴巴·卡林顿 (Bub Carrington) 和 亚历克斯·萨尔 (Alex Sarr) 在不受干扰的情况下获得上场机会吧。

27. 新奥尔良鹈鹕 (New Orleans Pelicans) (14-40)

上期排名: 28
过去一周: 负夏洛特黄蜂,负密尔沃基雄鹿,胜明尼苏达森林狼
进攻效率: 112.3(第 25) 防守效率: 118.4(第 27)

阵容调整: 得分后卫 乔丹·普尔 (Jordan Poole)

鹈鹕没有摆烂的动机。然而,他们已经输了 40 场。他们确实在明尼苏达取得了一场逆转客胜,而 蔡恩·威廉姆森 (Zion Williamson) 自 12 月 14 日以来悄悄地参加了每一场比赛。这可能是烂队中最具职业道德的一支,也就仅此而已了。话虽如此,鹈鹕在交易截止日什么都没做,只是送走了阿尔瓦拉多换来了裁掉 达伦·特里 (Dalen Terry) 的权利。至少 布莱斯·麦戈文斯 (Bryce McGowens) 得到了提拔,他取代了普尔的轮换时间。

28. 犹他爵士 (Utah Jazz) (16-37)

上期排名: 29
过去一周: 胜印第安纳步行者,负亚特兰大老鹰,负奥兰多魔术
进攻效率: 113.6(第 20) 防守效率: 121.7(第 30)

阵容调整: 大前锋 贾伦·杰克逊 (Jaren Jackson Jr.)

爵士的防守已经连续三个赛季全联盟最差。爵士刚刚得到了前最佳防守球员杰克逊,杰克逊、前骑士球员 劳里·马尔卡宁 (Lauri Markkanen) 以及目前受伤的中锋 沃克·凯斯勒 (Walker Kessler) 的三人组给了我一种 2022 年骑士队的既视感。我们将看看杰克逊和马尔卡宁在余下赛季被允许在同一场比赛中打多久;犹他不加掩饰的摆烂早已开始,他们限制了马尔卡宁和 基扬特·乔治 (Keyonte George) 的出场。犹他潜在的前场线值得担忧的一点是,传球现在不是他们任何一个大个子的强项。凯斯勒在因肩伤赛季报销前,本赛季的助攻多于失误。马尔卡宁本赛季场均 2.1 次助攻创职业生涯新高,而杰克逊职业生涯的失误比助攻还要多。

29. 印第安纳步行者 (Indiana Pacers) (13-40)

上期排名: 25
过去一周: 负休斯顿火箭,负犹他爵士,负密尔沃基雄鹿,负多伦多猛龙
进攻效率: 108.5(第 30) 防守效率: 116.2(第 21)

阵容调整: 中锋 伊维察·祖巴茨 (Ivica Zubac)

步行者用祖巴茨替换了 迈尔斯·特纳 (Myles Turner),祖巴茨比特纳年轻一岁,薪水低得多,而且在这一年后还有两年的合同。但从快船获得祖巴茨和 科比·布朗 (Kobe Brown) 的代价是昂贵的:如果选秀权在 5 到 9 顺位之间,可能是今年的乐透签;如果不是,则是一个 2031 年的首轮签,外加 2029 年的首轮签和 2028 年的次轮签。我预料到马图林会被送走,所以这部分交易并不让人难过,同时他们也甩掉了 伊赛亚·杰克逊 (Isaiah Jackson) 的多年合同。印第安纳看着去年的奇才和爵士,可能会对未来感到恐惧。抽签概率这东西从来不靠谱。

30. 萨克拉门托国王 (Sacramento Kings) (12-42)

上期排名: 30
过去一周: 负孟菲斯灰熊,负洛杉矶快船,负克利夫兰骑士
进攻效率: 110.2(第 28) 防守效率: 119.8(第 28)

阵容调整: 小前锋 德安德烈·亨特 (De’Andre Hunter)

国王在交易截止日前一周完成了大动作,引进了亨特。不幸的是,亨特周五晚上脸部受到重击,因眼伤将缺席到全明星赛后。队史上只有过一次单赛季 60 败,但尽管拥有 拉塞尔·威斯布鲁克 (Russell Westbrook)、 扎克·拉文 (Zach LaVine)、 德马尔·德罗赞 (DeMar DeRozan) 和 多曼塔斯·萨博尼斯 (Domantas Sabonis),这支国王队目前正处于 12 连败中。我确信这组阵容至少还能赢 11 场,但 道格·克里斯蒂 (Doug Christie) 的时间分配表明,国王不再打算赢球了。反正现在赢也晚了,对吧?

由生成式 AI 翻译,译文内容可能不准确或不完整,以原文为准。

By Law Murray, via The Athletic

点击查看原文:NBA Power Rankings: Knicks, Celtics soar into contenders tier; post-deadline roster reset

NBA Power Rankings: Knicks, Celtics soar into contenders tier; post-deadline roster reset

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Album of the Week: “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana,” Bad Bunny (2023)

Bad Bunny did the whole Super Bowl thing this weekend. And I thought about his song “Un Preview,” where he said (and I quote):

Y si tú quiere nos hacemo jevo
Sé que tú ere peligro, pero yo me atrevo

Part of those lyrics loosely translates to, “I know you’re dangerous, but I dare,” which is a feeling that might be shared by many NBA teams during trade season.

Who knew that Bad Bunny could provide such wisdom for the NBA trade deadline that has mercifully passed but not without what the league called a record 28 trades involving 73 players in the week leading up to the deadline. Of my December trade wind targets, 14 were traded, and 13 of last week’s Photoshop targets are on new teams. We have one more Power Rankings to do before the All-Star break, so let’s get a preview of these new rosters.

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

What to expect from Power Rankings:

  • These are my subjective rankings. I will consider a variety of objective measures, but it’s my final call.
  • These rankings are not just a review of the past week — we are projecting forward as well, so it is a balance of the two.
  • These are subjective, but not biased. There are no agendas in the Power Rankings, and we strive for an inclusive meritocracy
  • The one quality that these rankings possess: “Ruthless aggression.”
  • Enjoy the games, and enjoy the rankings, please!

For Week 17 of The Athletic NBA Power Rankings, we will explore a roster reset post-trade deadline for each team. Win-loss records and other statistical data are through Sunday’s action.


Tier 1: Top Contenders

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (40-13)

Last ranking: 1
In the last week: W vs ORL, L at SA, L vs HOU
Offensive rating: 117.7 (fourth place)Defensive rating: 105.9 (first place)

Roster reset: SG Jared McCain

The good news: We have a 40 before 20 team! Five years ago, I did a little story on 40-before-20 contender status, the theory that elite teams should win 40 games before they lose 20. Milwaukee bucked the trend in 2021, but the last four champions have all accomplished that feat, including last year’s Thunderbuddies. As you’ll see in these rankings, it might be a short list this season. The bad news: This Thunder team might be looking at its last week at the top of the rankings. OKC has played mid basketball for a solid two months, and though Jalen Williams is coming back, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit ab city too hard and will be out this week and the All-Star Weekend. Jared McCain is here, so he can talk to fellow undersized shooting guard and Philadelphia draft pick Isaiah Joe about Daryl Morey giving up on them.

2. Detroit Pistons (38-13)

Last ranking: 2
In the last week: W vs DEN, L vs WAS, W vs NY
Offensive rating: 116.4 (11th place)Defensive rating: 108.4 (second place)

Roster reset: SG Kevin Huerter

Detroit would be leading the rankings this week if it had not completely laid an egg against the Wizards in their own building. That’s the biggest win by the Wizards over the Pistons since Kyle Kuzma said don’t be that team. The bad Wizards loss was bracketed by impressive wins against the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks, with the beatdown applied to the Knicks being the second time this season that Detroit has beaten its playoff foe from last year by more than 30 points. Detroit’s depth is absurd. Jaden Ivey was traded, Huerter was acquired, and Huerter is going to need time to break through into the rotation ahead of players like the promoted Daniss Jenkins.

3. San Antonio Spurs (36-16)

Last ranking: 3
In the last week: W vs OKC, W at DAL, W vs DAL
Offensive rating: 116.5 (10th place)Defensive rating: 111.1 (3 place)

Roster reset: PF Harrison Barnes

The Spurs are trying to be like the New England Patriots. That is, a team that dominated most of the 21st century and hit a rough patch in the 2020s but is back right before our eyes. The Spurs did absolutely nothing to their 15-man standard contract roster, and that’s been the case since the regular season began. San Antonio has started bringing Barnes off the bench, his first games as a reserve since leaving Golden State a decade ago. The Spurs didn’t need a move, though. Stephon Castle just had a 40-point triple-double, and the Spurs have beaten the Thunder four times this season. They even avoided a post-Thunder letdown this time.

4. New York Knicks (34-19)

Last ranking: 6
In the last week: W at WAS, W vs DEN, L at DET, W at BOS
Offensive rating: 118.6 (third place)Defensive rating: 113.1 (11th place)

Roster reset: PG Jose Alvarado

Grand Theft Alvarado made it back to New York City before Grand Theft Auto VI came out. The Knicks basically swapped out Guerschon Yabusele for some point guard depth, and they need it, with Miles McBride potentially missing the rest of the regular season because of sports hernia surgery. New York got strapped in Detroit, but it has otherwise won nine of 10, with a big win at Boston to cap off a week where the Knicks also defeated the Nuggets in double overtime.

5. Boston Celtics (34-19)

Last ranking: 8
In the last week: W at DAL, W at HOU, W vs MIA, L vs NY
Offensive rating: 120.0 (second place)Defensive rating: 112.7 (ninth place)

Roster reset: C Nikola Vučević

The Celtics won 10 of 13 before losing at home against the Knicks. Boston traded Anfernee Simons, Xavier Tillman, Josh Minott and Chris Boucher and now has Vučević, who has some adjusting to do. Vučević had a double-double in a 22-point comeback win against the Miami Heat, but Boston was outscored by 24 points in Vučević’s 24 minutes Sunday against the Knicks. Payton Pritchard is also coming off the bench now to essentially replace Simons in the sixth-man role.

Tier 2: In a Good Place

6. Denver Nuggets (34-19)

Last ranking: 4
In the last week: L at DET, L at NY, W at CHI
Offensive rating: 121.0 (first place)Defensive rating: 116.8 (24th place)

Roster reset: SF Spencer Jones

Denver hasn’t been a big trade team over the previous two years, and it wasn’t again this year. All the Nuggets did was dump Hunter Tyson’s contract onto Brooklyn. But that move was necessary, as it allows Jones to get promoted. Cameron Johnson is back, but Aaron Gordon is injured again, and Peyton Watson is joining him on the sidelines this month as well. Denver has the league’s best offense, but it has the worst defense of any good team, and the assumption of full health for the Nuggets might be a dubious one.

7. Houston Rockets (32-19)

Last ranking: 5
In the last week: W at IND, L vs BOS, L vs CHA, W at OKC
Offensive rating: 117.3 (fifth place)Defensive rating: 112.2 (sixth place)

Roster reset: SF Kevin Durant

The Rockets switched it up this week, winning some close games while getting blown out at home on back-to-back nights against Eastern Conference visitors. And Ime Udoka had to call out Alperen Şengün’s raggedy defense yet again, a staple of Udoka’s tenure. But Houston didn’t do anything to its standard contract roster. After all, this is a team that completed a seven-team trade just to acquire and extend Durant this offseason, only for Fred VanVleet to tear his ACL, for Steven Adams to suffer a season-ending ankle injury and for Dorian Finney-Smith to look like a shell of himself coming off ankle surgery.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers (32-21)

Last ranking: 10
In the last week: W at LAC, W at SAC
Offensive rating: 117.2 (sixth place)Defensive rating: 113.4 (13th place)

Roster reset: PG James Harden

Numero uno! It felt like the Cavaliers were up to something when they traded De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento for the smaller contracts of reserve guards Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis. The next thing you know, Cleveland is tearing down another one of its billboards. Never mind the fact that the Cavaliers had to hold their breath during a win in Sacramento in Harden’s debut. Cleveland’s ceiling is much higher this spring with Harden instead of Darius Garland, provided that the remaining “core” Cavaliers do their job. It’s not Harden’s job to show up and dominate playoff games on his own. Harden is here to make Donovan Mitchell’s, Evan Mobley’s and Jarrett Allen’s jobs easier.

Tier 3: The Bubble

9. Los Angeles Lakers (32-19)

Last ranking: 11
In the last week: W at BRK, W vs PHI, W vs GS
Offensive rating: 116.5 (ninth place)Defensive rating: 116.5 (22nd place)

Roster reset: SG Luke Kennard

As a team, the Lakers are statistically unimpressive; 15 teams have a better point differential. As individuals, you’ll always be worried about them. Luka Dončić leads the league in scoring, but he has another soft tissue injury. LeBron James is the all-time leading scorer, but he is 41 years old and trying to get to 65 games if he can help it. Austin Reaves just got back and is on a minute restriction that has him in a reserve role for now. Nico Harrison isn’t running a team anymore, so the Lakers had a quiet deadline that saw them acquire Kennard for Gabe Vincent. Los Angeles has won eight of 11, though. The Lakers are doing a good job of keeping their worst traits contained to single games rather than full-on losing streaks, something they haven’t had for three weeks now.

Ayo Dosunmu had 11 points off the bench in his Minnesota Timberwolves debut.Ayo Dosunmu had 11 points off the bench in his Timberwolves debut. (Bruce Kluckhohn / Imagn Images)

10. Minnesota Timberwolves (32-22)

Last ranking: 7
In the last week: L at MEM, W at TOR, L vs NO, L vs LAC
Offensive rating: 116.6 (eighth place)Defensive rating: 112.8 (10th place)

Roster reset: SG Ayo Dosunmu

The Timberwolves finally won a game in Canada, so they keep a top-10 spot. But the energy is off again, as they’ve lost three of four. They won four in a row before that, but also lost five in a row in January. The loss to the Clippers was quite disturbing, as the Clippers had been losing for about a week before finding themselves in the waters of Lake Minnetonka. Minnesota gave up on Rob Dillingham to acquire contract-year shooting guard Dosunmu, who will essentially be in the Nickeil Alexander-Walker role.

11. Toronto Raptors (32-22)

Last ranking: 12
In the last week: L vs MIN, W vs CHI, W vs IND
Offensive rating: 114.0 (16th place)Defensive rating: 112.1 (fifth place)

Roster reset: C Trayce Jackson-Davis

Chris Paul is here! Not really. Much like P.J. Tucker last season, the Raptors are going to hold onto Paul after the Clippers traded him for part of this month before inevitably waiving him, presumably in time to keep Paul eligible for the postseason. Toronto traded Ochai Agbaji in the process. The more relevant move for the Raptors was acquiring Jackson-Davis to give them another center option. Toronto’s been starting 6-foot-7 lottery rookie Collin Murray-Boyles at center with Jakob Poeltl missing most of the last two months with back issues, and though Poeltl is reconditioning, Murray-Boyles keeps injuring the thumb on his shooting hand.

12. Philadelphia 76ers (30-22)

Last ranking: 13
In the last week: W at LAC, W at GS, L at LAL, W at PHO
Offensive rating: 115.4 (13th place)Defensive rating: 113.8 (14th place)

Roster reset: PF Dominick Barlow

Daryl Morey said that he sold high on Jared McCain and that no team moved the needle in the East, with former partner in analytics Harden going to Cleveland. Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln… It’s not as if the Sixers moved the needle with anything they did. Eric Gordon’s contract got dumped on Memphis. But Philadelphia has played well. Barlow got promoted, which is well deserved because Barlow has started more games than anyone on the team besides guards VJ Edgecombe and All-Star Tyrese Maxey. And Joel Embiid is the NBA’s leading scorer since Jan. 16, a wholesome turnaround considering the fact that he was averaging a point a minute just before this point two years ago.

13. Golden State Warriors (28-25)

Last ranking: 14
In the last week: L vs PHI, W at PHO, L at LAL
Offensive rating: 114.3 (15th place)Defensive rating: 112.2 (seventh place)

Roster reset: C Kristaps Porziņģis

They finally traded Jonathan Kuminga. We hardly knew ya, my friend. In comes Porziņģis, who actually has played fewer postseason games in his career (28) than Kuminga (34). The best part of Porziņģis is probably his expiring $30.7 million contract, which I’m sure will keep the Warriors in the A Block when it comes to the next star they’ll need to give Stephen Curry one more shot at glory. In the meantime, they have a complete lack of reliable interior offense until they can wait and see if Porziņģis can string two weeks of games together after the All-Star break.

14. Phoenix Suns (31-22)

Last ranking: 9
In the last week: W at POR, L vs GS, L vs PHI
Offensive rating: 114.5 (14th place)Defensive rating: 112.3 (eighth place)

Roster reset: SF Amir Coffey

Phoenix probably views its big trade acquisition as Jalen Green. After all, Green has played a total of 86 minutes this season, and only 47 of those minutes have come alongside Devin Booker (mind you, Phoenix has outscored foes 139-99 in those 47 minutes). In the meantime, Coffey is here, and Cole Anthony is sort of here, with Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis (since waived) getting traded by the Suns. Coffey made 101 3s and shot 40.9 percent last year as a Clipper, but he’s only made 7 of 25 (28 percent) of his 3s this season. Perhaps Anthony is trying to make sure there are no problems in Phoenix after Greg Anthony’s 1993 suspension

15. Miami Heat (28-26)

Last ranking: 16
In the last week: L vs ATL, L at BOS, W at WAS
Offensive rating: 113.7 (18th place)Defensive rating: 111.7 (fourth place)

Roster reset: PG Terry Rozier

One year after moving on from Jimmy Butler at midseason, no trades for the Heat this season. They still have Rozier, the 11-year veteran who is making $26 million in the last year of his contract. Rozier turns 32 next month, and he hasn’t played all season, but he’ll be paid in full after the league originally placed him on unpaid leave as he faces federal gambling charges. As far as on the court, Miami hasn’t won or lost three consecutive games in four weeks.

16. Charlotte Hornets (25-28)

Last ranking: 18
In the last week: W vs NO, W at HOU, W at ATL
Offensive rating: 117.1 (seventh place)Defensive rating: 114.9 (17th place)

Roster reset: PG Coby White

Get your popcorn ready! The Hornets have won nine straight games, and they get to put their streak on the line Monday against the conference-leading Pistons. The last time the Hornets won 10 in a row, Dell Curry was still playing for them, and Steph Curry was about to turn 10. This would be even more exciting for the Hornets if White didn’t arrive injured. He is dealing with a calf injury, but he is here in place of Collin Sexton. Charlotte’s win streak still has it only 10th in the Eastern Conference, but it is getting incredible run out of a starting lineup of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabaté.

17. Orlando Magic (27-24)

Last ranking: 15
In the last week: L at OKC, W vs BRK, W vs UTA
Offensive rating: 113.4 (21st place)Defensive rating: 114.1 (15th place)

Roster reset: PG Jevon Carter

The Magic are always quiet at the deadline. And they’re getting to the point where they’re always underwhelming, too. Someone is always out, or they can’t shoot, or they’re wondering what part of their identity is missing. Franz Wagner has only been able to play in two games in the last two months. Paolo Banchero missed 23 days this fall. Jalen Suggs missed the majority of six weeks earlier in the winter. The lack of lineup consistency is exhausting, and then they consistently keep it quiet when it comes to the roster in the middle of the season. Tyus Jones is out, Carter is in. Carter is certainly a more willing shooter and a more disruptive defender, but the Magic need to get their best players healthy so they can assess this core properly.

Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear

18. LA Clippers (25-27)

Last ranking: 17
In the last week: L vs PHI, L vs CLE, W at SAC, W at MIN
Offensive rating: 115.6 (12th place)Defensive rating: 115.8 (20th place)

Roster reset: PG Darius Garland

A week ago, the Clippers had the NBA’s best record over a six-week span, going 17-4 while dominating the minutes that Kawhi Leonard and James Harden were playing together. Then the Clippers and Harden moved on, and Ivica Zubac was traded as well. Leonard’s status hangs over all of this. For now, the Clippers have Leonard still playing at a high level, and they’re about to pair him with young players with real upside in two-time All-Star Garland and 2026 restricted free agent (and new Clippers free-throw merchant) Bennedict Mathurin. Perhaps most importantly, the Clippers will hope that the Indiana Pacers strike out in the lottery this spring. LA lost back-to-back games for the first time in more than a month, but it has a chance at getting to .500 at the All-Star break after blowing out a fully healthy Minnesota team on the road before the Super Bowl.

19. Atlanta Hawks (26-28)

Last ranking: 19th
In the last week: W at MIA, W vs UTA, L vs CHA
Offensive rating: 113.8 (17th place)Defensive rating: 114.7 (16th place)

Roster reset: SF Jonathan Kuminga

And thus ends the Kristaps Porziņģis era in Atlanta, one that lasted all of 17 games. If you thought the Hawks would do interesting things this season because of the tandem of Porziņģis and Trae Young, then I am here to inform you that Porziņģis and Young played a total of 51 minutes together, and the Hawks gave up 157 points in those minutes. Instead, Kuminga is here. He won’t debut until after the All-Star break, and his role is going to be fascinating. Atlanta used the top overall pick in the 2024 draft on Zaccharie Risacher, who hasn’t improved. But the Hawks have an All-Star power forward in Jalen Johnson, and the Hawks don’t need more shaky shooting in the first unit. It looks like Kuminga will come off the bench and try to give Atlanta a second-unit complement to CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.

Vit Krejčí has averaged 8.7 points in his three games for the Blazers this season. (Soobum Im / Imagn Images)

20. Portland Trail Blazers (25-28)

Last ranking: 21
In the last week: L vs PHO, W vs MEM, W vs MEM
Offensive rating: 113.2 (23rd place)Defensive rating: 115.4 (18th place)

Roster reset: SF Vit Krejčí

Portland is getting healthier, as Scoot Henderson made his season debut after missing the first 51 games of the season due to a torn hamstring. The rust was apparent but so was the skill, as Henderson had five rebounds and nine assists to help Portland blow out the Grizzlies. As far as real trade targets go, Krejčí is here in place of the injured Duop Reath to provide another wing shooter. Portland needed that visit from the Grizzlies to snap a six-game losing streak.

21. Milwaukee Bucks (21-29)

Last ranking: 24
In the last week: W vs CHI, W vs NO, W vs IND
Offensive rating: 113.0 (24th place)Defensive rating: 116.6 (23rd place)

Roster reset: PF Ousmane Dieng

Giannis Antetokounmpo is still here. We’re not even going to comment about when or if he’ll play again this season, so let’s just move on to some of the new pieces. Dieng is a lottery pick, but he’s going to need some time to break into Doc Rivers’ rotation. He replaces Amir Coffey. Rather than keep Nigel Hayes-Davis, Milwaukee is adding Cam Thomas to replace Cole Anthony. Might as well. There’s some theoretical offensive talent, and these aren’t bad swings by the Bucks. But if this is the group that Giannis is supposed to come back for, then I’m confident in saying that the Jordan Belfort trade talks will rise again in four months.

22. Chicago Bulls (24-29)

Last ranking: 19
In the last week: L at MIL, L at TOR, L vs DEN
Offensive rating: 113.7 (19th place)Defensive rating: 117.5 (25th place)

Roster reset: PG Anfernee Simons

Funniest trade deadline ever. Coby White was traded, but ballhandling guards on this team now include Simons, Jaden Ivey, Collin Sexton, Rob Dillingham and incumbents Josh Giddey and Tre Jones. The Bulls even signed Mac McClung to another two-way contract, just in time for him to show up for All-Star Weekend, even though they also have Yuki Kawamura on a two-way contract. Why are all of these dudes on the same team?! The Bulls haven’t beaten a non-Heat team in more than two weeks, and even the Heat have beaten them twice since then, and I’m not even sure if we’ll get our annual Heat Play-In Tournament win against the Bulls this April. I’d rank Chicago lower, but the unashamed tank zone makes up the rest of these rankings.

23. Memphis Grizzlies (20-31)

Last ranking: 22
In the last week: W vs MIN, W at SAC, L at POR, L at POR
Offensive rating: 113.2 (22nd place)Defensive rating: 115.4 (19th place)

Roster reset: PF Taylor Hendricks

They traded Jaren Jackson Jr.! I thought they might, but I did not expect Jackson to be the only starting caliber player moved in an eight-player deal, and Jackson wasn’t merely a starter. He was an All-Star last season who just got paid, and Jackson made sure to start the season opener despite offseason toe surgery. Anyway, Memphis has a lot of future first-round picks now, and it even picked up a rookie contract former lottery pick in Hendricks, along with a first-round rookie guard in Walter Clayton Jr. Kyle Anderson, former Grizzly, is here for the vibes. The Grizzlies are going to need all of that as they secure a bottom-five placement in the West.

24. Dallas Mavericks (19-33)

Last ranking: 23
In the last week: L vs BOS, L vs SA, L at SA
Offensive rating: 110.3 (27th place)Defensive rating: 113.2 (12th place)

Roster reset: SF Khris Middleton

I thought I was done cracking on these dudes for trading Luka Dončić to the Lakers. But no, let me revisit that thing one more time. Luka Dončić played 900 minutes in the 2024 postseason, a run that went through the NBA Finals. They then traded Dončić for Anthony Davis, who wound up playing a total of 892 minutes in the regular season for the Mavericks. Then, to make things funnier, the best players Dallas got back when it traded Davis away are former Jason Kidd disciple Middleton and Marvin Bagley III. That’s the same Bagley who was drafted one spot over Dončić in 2018. At least Dallas got a couple of first-round picks this time. Cooper Flagg has been killing it, but the Mavericks haven’t won a game in more than two weeks.

25. Brooklyn Nets (14-37)

Last ranking: 27
In the last week: L vs LAL, L at ORL, W vs WAS
Offensive rating: 110.5 (26th place)Defensive rating: 118.0 (26th place)

Roster reset: SF Ochai Agbaji

Agbaji being here in a trade and Cam Thomas not being on the Nets anymore is as close as I got to nailing a specific trade last week. Never mind that Agbaji arrived in a three-team trade that involved Chris Paul, or that Thomas was just straight-up waived. Agbaji made sense as a flier for a Brooklyn team that just needed another willing defender, something that it appeared Thomas was not ever going to be with the Nets. Thomas wasn’t the only player let go. Haywood Highsmith never suited up for Brooklyn after the Nets traded for him in August and Tyrese Martin started 17 games in Brooklyn before getting waived. Hunter Tyson was waived as well after Denver traded him, while the Nets appear to be keeping Josh Minott from Boston.

Tier 5: Basement Floor

26. Washington Wizards (14-38)

Last ranking: 26
In the last week: L vs NY, W at DET, L at BRK, L vs MIA
Offensive rating: 109.4 (29th place)Defensive rating: 120.2 (29th place)

Roster reset: PF Anthony Davis

This tier is going to be a black eye on the league for the rest of the season. The Wizards lost 64 games last season just to wind up with the sixth overall pick in the draft, so I don’t blame them for turning Bradley Beal and John Wall into Trae Young and Davis. I wrote a column a few years ago defending Davis and Kawhi Leonard from street clothes narratives, and well, Washington’s uniforms the rest of the season might as well be street clothes. I don’t clutch pearls over tanking because it all evens out. Either an organization knows how to put a winning product together or not, and culture is a big part of it. We’ll see what Young and Davis do together with a core of good prospects, and whether Washington can add to that group of young talent. But for the rest of the season, I’m not pretending like I need to see either Young or Davis. Let Bub Carrington and Alex Sarr get their run in uninterrupted.

27. New Orleans Pelicans (14-40)

Last ranking: 28
In the last week: L at CHA, L at MIL, W at MIN
Offensive rating: 112.3 (25th place)Defensive rating: 118.4 (27th place)

Roster reset: SG Jordan Poole

The Pelicans have no incentive to tank. And yet here they are with 40 losses already. They did go into Minnesota and secure a comeback road win, and Zion Williamson has quietly played in every game since Dec. 14. This is probably the most ethical of the bad teams, so there’s that. With that said, the Pelicans did jack squat at the trade deadline, trading Jose Alvarado for the right to waive Dalen Terry. At least Bryce McGowens is getting a promotion out of it, a player who has taken Poole’s minutes.

28. Utah Jazz (16-37)

Last ranking: 29
In the last week: W at IND, L at ATL, L at ORL
Offensive rating: 113.6 (20th place)Defensive rating: 121.7 (30th place)

Roster reset: PF Jaren Jackson Jr.

Utah has had the NBA’s worst defense for three seasons. The Jazz just got themselves a former Defensive Player of the Year in Jackson, and I get 2022 Cavaliers vibes from the potential trio of Jackson, former Cavalier Lauri Markkanen and currently injured center Walker Kessler. We’ll see how much Jackson and Markkanen are allowed to play in the same game for the rest of the season; the blatant tanking has long been underway in Utah as they limit Markkanen and Keyonte George’s appearances. One thing to be concerned with for Utah’s potential front line is that passing is not a strength of any of their bigs now. Kessler had more assists than turnovers this season before season-ending shoulder surgery. Markkanen is averaging a career-high 2.1 assists this season, and Jackson has more career turnovers than assists.

29. Indiana Pacers (13-40)

Last ranking: 25
In the last week: L vs HOU, L vs UTA, L at MIL, L at TOR
Offensive rating: 108.5 (30th place)Defensive rating: 116.2 (21st place)

Roster reset: C Ivica Zubac

The Pacers got a Myles Turner replacement in Zubac, a player who is a year younger, makes significantly less money and will be under contract for two more seasons after this one. But the cost to get Zubac and Kobe Brown from the Clippers was extravagant: potentially this year’s lottery pick if it is between Nos. 5 and 9, and if not, a 2031 first-round pick to go with a 2029 first-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick. I expected Bennedict Mathurin to get moved, so that part of the deal doesn’t sting, along with offloading Isaiah Jackson’s multi-year contract. Indiana can look at the Wizards and Utah Jazz from last year and get spooked about what can happen. The lottery has a way of not caring about percentages.

30. Sacramento Kings (12-42)

Last ranking: 30
In the last week: L vs MEM, L vs LAC, L vs CLE
Offensive rating: 110.2 (28th place)Defensive rating: 119.8 (28th place)

Roster reset: SF De’Andre Hunter

The Kings made their big move the weekend before the trade deadline, acquiring Hunter. Unfortunately for Hunter, he took a nasty hit to the face Friday night, and he’s out until after the All-Star break with an eye injury. There’s only been one 60-loss team in franchise history, but this Kings team is on a 12-game losing streak despite Russell Westbrook, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis being on this roster. I’m sure there are at least 11 more wins in this group, but Doug Christie’s minute allocation has suggested that the Kings aren’t trying to win anymore. Why start now, right?