NBA Power Rankings Based on NBA Championship Odds (Kevin Durant Makes Suns Favorites in West)
By Peter Dewey
The 2022-23 NBA trade deadline was one of the wilder ones in recent memory, with 28 of the league's 30 teams making a deal prior to the deadline.
Only the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls stayed out of the mix by deadline day, and all of the trades caused a major shift in the NBA title odds.
The biggest fish was superstar Kevin Durant, who landed with the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster deal the day before the deadline. The Brooklyn Nets moved on from Durant and Kyrie Irving (traded to Dallas), completely changing the team's outlook this season and beyond.
Other teams made some small moves, while the Los Angeles Lakers flipped Russell Westbrook and draft capital to bring D'Angelo Russell back to L.A. along with Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt.
With the futures market now settling post deadline, how does each NBA team stack up? Here are my latest NBA Power Rankings:
1. Boston Celtics (+300) Last Week: No. 1
Derrick White has stepped in a big way for Boston, who continues to win games even with Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown sidelined.
2. Milwaukee Bucks (+600) LW: No. 2
The Bucks added Jae Crowder at the deadline, a solid boost to their wing depth and defense for the stretch run.
3. Denver Nuggets (+800) LW: No. 3
Denver moved Bones Hyland, but it brought in Thomas Bryant and Reggie Jackson for veteran depth.
4. Phoenix Suns (+450) LW: No. 9
The Suns are now the favorite in the West after landing KD, but can this core mesh fast enough to finish with a top seed?
5. Philadelphia 76ers (+1000) LW: No. 4
The Matisse Thybulle era is over in Philly, but the Sixers got a versatile wing in Jalen McDaniels at the deadline.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers (+2500) LW: No. 6
Cleveland stood pat at the deadline, but the Cavs are adding Danny Green in the buyout market to help with their wing/guard rotation.
7. Los Angeles Clippers (+1000) LW: No. 5
Bones Hyland, Eric Gordon and Mason Plumlee all went to the Clippers on deadline day, giving them arguably the deepest roster in the NBA.
8. Memphis Grizzlies (+1700) LW: No. 6
Memphis made a small deal at the deadline to acquire Luke Kennard, but the Grizzlies are losers because of the Mavericks, Suns, Clippers and Nuggets adding more impact players.
9. Dallas Mavericks (+1600) LW: No. 10
Can Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic work? Dallas has gotten off to a solid start with the All-Star guard duo.
10. Sacramento Kings (+10000) LW: No. 8
The Kings are a loser at the deadline, as they saw several teams below them in the West get substantially better for the stretch run.
11. Miami Heat (+4000) LW: No. 11
Miami made a small move to open up a roster spot, trading away Dewayne Dedmon. It will be interesting to see if the Heat add a player in the buyout market.
12. Minnesota Timberwolves (+25000) LW: No. 15
Minnesota moved on from D'Lo and brought in Mike Conley to try and salvage the Rudy Gobert-Karl-Anthony Towns pairing.
13. New York Knicks (+20000) LW: No. 13
The Knicks added Josh Hart at the deadline, and he's been terrific so far in two games, shooting 65 percent from the field for New York while averaging 19 points per game.
14. Golden State Warriors (+1700) LW: No. 14
The Warriors moved James Wiseman in a four-team deal for Gary Payton II. The West looks a lot tougher for them at this point in the season.
15. Brooklyn Nets (+12000) LW: No. 12
Brooklyn is trying to contend despite trading away its two stars, but that's going to be tough this season. Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and Spencer Dinwiddie are solid pieces, though.
16. Atlanta Hawks (+10000) LW: No. 17
Atlanta couldn't find a deal for John Collins at the deadline again. Well, there's always next year...
17. New Orleans Pelicans (+4500) LW: No. 16
The Pelicans got a tough injury update on Zion Williamson, who re-aggravated his hamstring injury and will be sidelined after the All-Star break as well.
18. Toronto Raptors (+18000) LW: No. 21
The Raptors stood pat at the deadline, adding Jakob Poeltl to make a run in the East now that Brooklyn is expected to take a step back.
19. Washington Wizards (+50000) LW: No. 24
This Wizards team is tough to figure out, jumping from winning streaks to losing streaks but hanging around the play-in picture in the East. They're a stay away in the futures market.
20. Oklahoma City Thunder (+70000) LW: No. 23
The Thunder are in the play-in picture in the West, but they didn't add to the roster at the deadline.
21. Utah Jazz (+60000) LW: No. 19
Utah had another fire sale at the deadline, adding to an arsenal of draft picks from the Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert deals.
22. Portland Trail Blazers (+25000) LW: No. 20
Portland traded away Gary Payton II and Josh Hart, making the supporting cast around Damian Lillard even thinner...
23. Los Angeles Lakers (+4500) LW: No. 22
Can the new-look Lakers get into the playoffs? Not if LeBron James is out of the lineup with a foot injury. He's missed the team's last three games.
24. Chicago Bulls (+40000) LW: No. 18
The Bulls didn't make a move and are likely to stay in the bottom half of the East. Very, very confusing decision for a team that has a few players on expiring deals.
25. Indiana Pacers (+80000) LW: No. 25
The Pacers have come back to earth after a strong start, and they're likely going to miss the playoffs this season.
26. Orlando Magic (+100000) LW: No. 26
Orlando opened up some more playing time for its young players by trading Mo Bamba and buying out Patrick Beverley and Terence Ross.
27. Detroit Pistons (+100000) LW: No. 28
James Wiseman will attempt to revive his career in Detroit, something Marvin Bagley was able to do as well.
28. Charlotte Hornets (+100000) LW: No. 27
The Hornets have lost seven of their last eight games and are way out of the playoff picture in the East.
29. Houston Rockets (+100000) LW: No. 30
Eric Gordon is finally gone, meaning it's the Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. show until futher notice...
30. San Antonio Spurs (+100000) LW: No. 29
The Spurs have lost 13 straight games. This team is tanking like none other we've seen in recent seasons.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.