NBA POWER RANKINGS

NBA POWER RANKINGS

IS IT TIME TO WORRY ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS

In this week’s NBA Power Rankings, we explore whether it’s time to officially be worried about the struggling Los Angeles Lakers

Without LeBron James, it was expected that the Los Angeles Lakers would struggle. However, I’m not sure if anyone expected them to struggle this much.

In LeBron’s absence, the Lakers have gone 5-10 and have fallen out of the top 8 in the Western Conference. They are tied with the Sacramento Kings and just one game ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves. And LeBron still hasn’t made his return to the lineup.

As the NBA Trade Deadline quickly approaches, it brings an interesting question – should the Lakers make a bold move considering that they have fallen off so much in the last few weeks? Should they stand pat and hope that LeBron’s return should be enough to right the ship?

The great news is that, if they feel they need to, the Lakers have the assets to get a deal done. Question is, will they do it? Less than half the season remaining, the Lakers can’t feel great about where they are. It might officially be time to worry about the Lakers.

30. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (9-41)

No surprise that the Cleveland Cavaliers still have the worst record in the NBA, considering that this team simply doesn’t have the talent to compete with the rest of the NBA right now. With that said, there is some interest around this team regarding what happens at the NBA Trade Deadline.

The Cavs have a number of players that could be moved, but perhaps the most interesting one is Kevin Love. He would probably have to make a return in the next week for that to be a real possibility, but you never know.

Either way, Cleveland will likely make a move or two. Plus, they could even buyout a player or two if they can’t strike anything in the next week and a half. The road to Zion continues for this team, and they’re winning.

29. NEW YORK KNICKS (10-17)

The New York Knicks are another team that has fully embraced the tank, and could be one of the most active teams as the NBA Trade Deadline draws near. A few players that have seen their names appear in the rumor mill include Frank Ntilikina, Enes Kanter and Courtney Lee.

It would be surprising if this team didn’t make a move in the next few days. Plus, moving one of their rotation players could help in their pursuit of landing a top 3 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Zion Williamson in New York would absolutely be a great thing for the NBA overall and the Knicks. As long as New York remains on this pace for the next couple of months, that will be a real possibility.

28. CHICAGO BULLS (11-38)

The Chicago Bulls have lost nine of their last 10 games, and continue to look like a team that has no clear direction. This is another team that will be a seller at the NBA Trade Deadline, hoping to rid themselves of at least two of their players.

Those players being Robin Lopez, who is still a valuable backup center, and Jabari Parker, the team’s prized free agent signing from last summer that simply didn’t work out in Chicago. If the Bulls can get anything from these two, it would be great.

If not, it wouldn’t exactly be surprising to see both of these names in the buyout market later this year. Sometimes addition by subtraction is real, and perhaps that could be the deal here with Parker in Chicago. It’s been that bad.

27. PHOENIX SUNS (11-40)

The Phoenix Suns are another bad team, but it’s interesting to hear that they’ve been somewhat active in potentially upgrading their roster in the days leading up to the NBA Trade Deadline. Over the last few weeks, they’ve been linked to Dennis Smith Jr.

He would be a perfect fit in Phoenix, too. He meshes well with the team’s current timeline, along with Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton, and he’s a point guard – something that the Suns don’t have of at the moment.

At the same time, the Suns could probably find a great point guard in the 2019 NBA Draft, especially if they’re going to draft in the top 5 again.

26. ATLANTA HAWKS (15-33)

The Atlanta Hawks are an interesting young team. At times they’ve looked bad. Really bad. At other times, however, they’ve looked like one of the most exciting teams to watch in the Eastern Conference.

Led by Trey Young and Josh Collins, this team has some really interesting prospects on their roster. One of the best kept secrets in the East has been Kevin Huerter, a late first round pick from the 2019 NBA Draft class.

During the month of January, he’s averaging 15 points, four assists and four rebounds per game on 42 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range.

25. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (20-30)

Over the last few weeks, the wheels of the season have really fallen off the Memphis Grizzlies. They’ve lost eight of their last 10 games, and are beginning to listen to offers for Marc Gasol and Mike Conley.

Which is 100 percent the wrong move, but it’s a bold one that not many expected them to make in-season. With the NBA Trade Deadline less than two weeks away, there’s no question that the Grizzlies will be busy.

And this team is going to continue to struggle on the floor. Hopefully, if they indeed make a bold trade in-season, they can get a nice return that could help jumpstart this team’s rebuild.

24. ORLANDO MAGIC (20-29)

After somewhat of a strong start to the season, the Orlando Magic are currently 3.5 games back of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Less than two weeks away from the NBA Trade Deadline, it brings an interesting dilemma for the Magic.

Should they be buyers or sellers? Specifically, should they move Nikola Vucevic, who is having the best season of his career. Vucevic is a legit all-star candidate, and is average 21 points and 12 rebounds per game. He’s also shooting 38 percent from deep.

Vucevic is a valuable asset and could possibly bring in a nice first-round pick at the deadline. What will the Magic elect to do, though?

23. DETROIT PISTONS (21-27)

The Detroit Pistons are another team that is in a difficult situation. They can’t exactly tank because they have too much talent on their roster, and at the same time don’t have enough because they’re currently out of the top 8 in the East.

They can’t make a big move at the NBA Trade Deadline either, because they have contracts that simply other teams don’t want. So, in essence, the Pistons are, for the most part, stuck with what they have.

Sadly, it’s probably not going to be enough to make the playoffs – even in a weak bottom of the Eastern Conference. The Pistons will have to ride out the next two years like this.

22. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (21-27)

Since losing John Wall, the Washington Wizards have been subject to the rumor mill. They’re a team that should probably think hard about possibly blowing it all up. But, at the same time, they have one problematic contract in Wall.

The supermax kicks in next year, and it’s going to be difficult to find a team that is willing to pay Wall $40 million over the next few years. They could easily move a few of their other pieces, but don’t want to give up on making the playoffs just yet.

If they continue to fall of playoff pace in the East, it wouldn’t be surprising to see this team move a player like Otto Porter Jr. at the trade deadline.

21. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (22-28)

There’s no question that the New Orleans Pelicans have struggled as of late. The good news is that Anthony Davis is expected to return sooner rather than later. Will that be enough to catapult them back into the top 8 in the West?

It’s no longer a given, and if the Pelicans fail to make the playoffs, there’s a good chance that we could see a blockbuster trade, revolving around Davis, at some point this summer. It’s a reality that needs to start being envisioned by the front office.

New Orleans needs to make a deal at the trade deadline to help salvage Davis in a Pelicans uniform. However, I’m not sure there’s a deal out there to be made that would make enough of a difference.

20. DALLAS MAVERICKS (22-26)

The story of the Dallas Mavericks‘ season has largely been Luka Doncic. He’s been one of the best, if not the best, rookie so far this season and is the overwhelming favorite to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.

With that said, this team could still be sellers at the NBA Trade Deadline. A few players that have come up in the rumor mill are Dennis Smith Jr., Wesley Matthewsand Harrison Barnes. DeAndre Jordan might be another that they should shop.

The Mavs are likely not going to make a second half push for the playoffs, and this team’s timeline is still a couple years away from really competing.

19. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (24-25)

It’s actually quite surprising that the Minnesota Timberwolves haven’t exactly fallen off the cliff in the Western Conference since trading Jimmy Butler. They’re only three games back of the 8th and final playoff spot.

With that said, I don’t think anyone really expects the Wolves to make any kind of real push towards the playoffs. It would. certainly be a great story, but that seems highly unlikely at this point.

Credit Karl-Anthony Towns and the rest of this roster that has stepped up in the loss of their best player just a couple months ago. Perhaps there was some growth in Minnesota.

18. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (23-25)

The Charlotte Hornets are clinging to the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but the story here is that the team continues to shoot down trade offers for Kemba Walker, who is a free agent after the season.

That means that the team intends on re-signing Kemba during the off-season, which will prove to be an extremely costly move. Even though he’s having one of the best season of his career, there’s no question that the Hornets will have to give Kemba a max contract.

I’m not sure that’s the best move for this franchise moving forward, nevertheless it’s the move that the team is clearly going to make.

17. SACRAMENTO KINGS (25-24)

The Sacramento Kings are two games back from the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and, for the first time in a while, will likely be buyers as the NBA Trade Deadline draws near. They’re reportedly looking for a true starting small forward, something that they clearly don’t have on their roster.

Nevertheless, the Kings have been quite fine without one. They’ve been one of the best stories in the NBA this season, and both Buddy Hield and De’Aaron Fox have been good for this team this season.

The Kings are one of the most enjoyable watches in all the NBA, but this team should be even better next season. And that’s something to be even more excited about.

16. MIAMI HEAT (23-24)

The Miami Heat are one of the most frustrating teams to watch on a nightly basis. They can be so hot and cold on any given day, and a big reason why is because their roster is so unbalanced. Miami has really good players, but not any great ones.

And short of making a big move at the NBA Trade Deadline, this issue is going to continue to be the case for the rest of this season – and possibly next, considering they’re in salary cap hell for the next two seasons.

The good news is that Goran Dragic is expected to return soon, and perhaps he could give this team the shot in the arm that they’ve desperately needed.

15. LOS ANGELES LAKERS (25-24)

The Los Angeles Lakers are absolutely bleeding and the only thing that will likely stop the hurting is a return from LeBron James. I suppose it also doesn’t help that Lonzo Ball will miss the next few weeks, but LeBron is the straw that stirs this drink.

At the same time, Los Angeles will likely be active at the NBA Trade Deadline. Short of landing a star, the Lakers are widely expected to add a 3-point shooter to their roster for the stretch run. Who will it be?

Well, that’s anyones guess. Though, I feel like Wayne Ellington makes a ton of sense for this team. Can they make it happen?

14. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (27-22)

The Los Angeles Clippers continue to be one of the best narratives to come out of this season, and the reports continue to roll in on how this team is hot after the likes of Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and any other big name expected to hit the free agent market during the summer.

Making the playoffs this season – and that’s certainly a possibility, as they are currently ranked 8th in the West – would be icing on top of the cake. Tobias Harris is having a great season, and might be the best player that no one has heard of.

The job that Doc Rivers has done this season can’t be overlooked either. He’s done a great job with this (fairly) young team.

13. BROOKLYN NETS (27-23)

It’s weird to type and talk about the Brooklyn Nets as the 13th best team in the Western Conference. But that is a reality that we’re currently living in at the moment. Considering that this team has lost two starting caliber players at this point in the season, and that the Nets are still one of the best 8 teams in the East is amazing.

The job that this entire front office and coaches have done can’t be overlooked. D’Angelo Russell is finally looking like a No. 2 overall pick and there are a number of young, promising pieces that are just scratching the surface on their potential.

The future is bright for the Nets. And making the playoffs this season would be a welcomed surprise.

12. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (28-22)

For the most part, there hasn’t been much talk about the San Antonio Spurs this season. And there’s reason for it. They aren’t a top 4 team in the Western Conference anymore and they don’t have a top player, after trading Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors during the summer.

Nevertheless, once again, the Spurs look like a playoff team. And once they get there, they will probably be a tough out. Usually, every Gregg Popovich coached team is. The big question is whether this team is going to make any move at the Trade Deadline.

If they can pull off something, this team could continue to rise up the standings, potentially so much to even host a first-round playoff series.

11. UTAH JAZZ (28-22)

During the month of January, the Utah Jazz really made up some ground in the Western Conference. They went 10-3 in the month, and Donovan Michell has really come on strong after struggling to start the year.

The Jazz are 6th in the conference, but only three games back of the 3rd seed in the conference. Mitchell averaged 28 points, five assists and five rebounds 45 percent shooting from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range in January.

If the Jazz continue on this pace, along with adding a piece at the NBA Trade Deadline, there’s no question that the Jazz will continue to rise up the standings out West.

10. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (31-20)

The Portland Trail Blazers have been one of the most consistent teams in the NBA this season, that’s not something that’s necessarily a surprise. Especially when you consider that they have one of the best back-court duos in the NBA.

Still, this team needs to add a piece or two at the NBA Trade Deadline if they’re going to be considered a real threat in the Western Conference. If only Kevin Love was available, because I can’t help but think how much of a perfect fit he would be on this team.

9. INDIANA PACERS (32-16)

For much of this season, the Indiana Pacers were one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Even though they really didn’t get much public recognition for the job they were doing, they were certainly one of the Conference Finals contenders.

However, losing Victor Oladipo for the remainder of the season will certainly hurt this team’s momentum heading into the playoff push. It’s going to be interesting to see how much of a fall this team makes.

The Pacers will likely still make the playoffs, but Oladipo will surely be missed when it matters most. He was their closer and their best offensive weapon. You can’t just replace that mid-season.

8. HOUSTON ROCKETS (28-20)

James Harden is on a tear, making a real push for another NBA MVP, and Chris Paul is about to make his return to the lineup. All in all, after their really rough start to the season, the Houston Rockets are back on track.

The Rockets are just two games back of the third seed in the West, and just 4.5 games back of the second seed. It’s going to be investing to see what this team elects to do at the NBA Trade Deadline, because you can almost bet that Daryl Morey is not going to stand pat.

This team has holes in the roster, and need to make a few upgrades if they really want to be taken seriously in the playoffs.

7. BOSTON CELTICS (30-19)

The Boston Celtics are still not playing like the team that we all expected them to be, but I still believe that hits team is going to be one of the final two teams standing in the Eastern Conference when this year is all said and done.

The C’s will reportedly stand pat at the NBA Trade Deadline, which suggests that this team is happy with the roster that it has. And how could they not. They have one of the most talented rosters in the NBA, and if they can play to their ability there’s no question that his team will be in the Conference Finals.

Can they? We will see.

6. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (32-18)

Jimmy Butler was recovering from an injured wrist injury, but it appears that he will be back sooner than later. That’s definitely some good news for the Philadelphia 76ers. This team needs as much time as they can get collectively before the playoffs.

The Sixers are an interesting team with a ton of potential. They are a tam that can compete with the best of them, but I’m interested to see how this team looks in a seven game series against the likes of the Raptors, Bucks of Celtics.

They’ve proven that they can beat on the lesser teams, but I’m really excited to see if their young stars can take the next step in the playoffs.

5. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (30-18)

The Oklahoma City Thunder have been, for the most part, the third best team in the Western Conference for much of the season, behind the Warriors and Nuggets. They’re only 2.5 games back of the Nuggets for the second seed and four behind the Warriors for the top seed.

I’m not saying that the Thunder could catch either of them, but it would be quite the story if they can throw their hats in the chase for the regular season West title.

And they’re largely doing this with Russell Westbrook who has forgotten how to shoot the outside shot on any consistent basis.

4. DENVER NUGGETS (33-15)

For most of the season, the Denver Nuggets have been the team in the Western Conference that has surprised the masses and been the one real challenge to the Warriors for potentially finishing with the top spot in the conference.

Even though the Warriors have overtaken the Nuggets for the top spot, the season that Denver is having is still quite remarkable. The Nuggets are nearly 20 games over .500 in January, and I’m not sure we’ve seen this team at its best yet.

I’m interested to see if this team can hang come playoff time, but they’ve certainly been the surprise of the year.

3. TORONTO RAPTORS (36-15)

Even though the Toronto Raptors have fallen off the pace a bit in the Eastern Conference, they’re still one of the strong contenders. As long as they have Kawhi Leonard healthy, this team is certainly going to be a problem.

With that said, there are already rumblings of this team potentially losing Kawhi during the summer. That can sit right, especially considering how good this team has looked when he’s in the lineup.

Toronto is team to watch during the second half of the season, for both the good and bad.

2. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (35-14)

The Golden State Warriors haven’t worked their way all the way back to the top of our NBA Power Rankings, but there’s no question that this team is looking better and better with every passing week.

They’re beginning to work themselves back into contender shape, and as long as this team enters the playoffs healthy, they’re going to be the overwhelming favorites to once again win the NBA Championship.

DeMarcus Cousins is only going to get bette with every rep and minute that he plays, remember that. This team may have not even played its best basketball yet. That’s scary, even in year 3 of their dynasty.

1. MILWAUKEE BUCKS (35-12)

The Milwaukee Bucks are still the best team in the NBA right now. They don’t have many weaknesses on their roster, and have one of the best players in the NBA – and arguably the best player in the Eastern Conference.

The scary part of it all is the fact that Giannis Antetokounmpo is still getting better. He’s going to be better tomorrow than he is today, and so on. Even without a 3-point, Giannis is one of the most dominant players in the NBA. That’s impressive.

What will this team do at the NAB Trade Deadline? That remains to be seen, but you can almost bet that they will try to add a piece or two for the stretch run. The Bucks are a legit threat to make it out of the East this season.