Due to all the crazy trades, we barely had time to assess what happened in week 16. Luka Doncic to Lakers? Jimmy Butler to the Warriors? It was truly one of the most bizarre weeks in NBA history. But after all the fiascos and player deals, teams still balled out and tried to solidify their standings for a better position in the NBA rankings.
While lots of stuff has happened in the past week, here on TPS, we’ve got you covered. Here are the rankings for all 30 NBA teams after the jammed-packed week 16.
Who are the top-ranking teams in the NBA after week 16?
30. Washington Wizards (30)
Losers of three straight, the Wizards tried to inject some veteran presence into this team by trading for Reggie Jackson and former DPOY Marcus Smart. Could these moves help hasten their rebuilding process in the future? Probably not. Owning the worst record in the NBA right now, the Wizards are the front runners of the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes.
29. New Orleans Pelicans (27)
Losing Dejounte Murray to a season-ending injury a couple of weeks ago truly halted the momentum they had in January. Losers of nine straight, this team should just tank to get themselves in a better position for the 2025 NBA Draft lottery. And, oh…they finally traded Brandon Ingram for a bunch of role players.
28. Utah Jazz (29)
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The Jazz moved a spot in this week’s NBA rankings not because they have played well but because the Pelicans have had a bad couple of weeks. Going 2-8 in their last 10 games, this squad is bound for the lottery in June. They were also the unfortunate participants of Luka’s debut with the Lakers. This is yet another failed season for this franchise.
27. Charlotte Hornets (28)
After the Lakers rescinded the Mark Williams-Dalton Knecht, the Hornets threw some shade at the Lakers on social media in the aftermath of the failed deal. That’s basically their highlight in week 16. 2-8 in their last 10 games, the Hornets barely resemble an NBA team right now. LaMelo Ball may have been playing like an all-star this season, but failing to elevate this team to new heights year after year should be a red flag for the Hornets moving forward.
26. Toronto Raptors (25)
Losers of four straight games, the biggest win this week for Toronto acquiring Brandon Ingram via trade from the Pelicans. And they gave up little to get him, too, so that’s a win. This was a move that will help them in the future, just not today.
25. Brooklyn Nets (26)
The Nets went 2-1 this week, posting a 5-5 record in their last 10. This is all without Cam Thomas, the team’s leading scorer. Perhaps the biggest win for them was the contract buyout of Ben Simmons. The former all-star’s game was basically non-existent during his time with the Nets.
24. Philadelphia 76ers (24)
With reports stating that Joel Embiid might need surgery this offseason to correct his lingering knee issues, it certainly looks like Philly’s season is in serious jeopardy right now. Losers of three straight and looking outside the play-in tournament heading into the all-star break, this NBA franchise is trending in the wrong direction, especially in the rankings.
23. Chicago Bulls (23)
While it might be good news for this franchise that they finally traded Zach LaVine away, the return they received was somewhat mediocre. Oddly enough, with the Sixers struggling, the Bulls are still a couple of wins ahead of them for the final play-in spot in the East before the all-star festivities.
22. Portland Trail Blazers (21)
After going absolutely bonkers in terms of winning in the last couple of weeks, the Blazers came crashing down to the ground in week 16 with a couple of losses under their belt. We all knew deep inside that their sudden uptick was going to be short-lived. They don’t have a star, and the league isn’t kind to those kind of teams.
21. San Antonio Spurs (22)
De’Aaron Fox’s transition from the Kings to the Spurs wasn’t as smooth as everyone hoped, but that wasn’t San Antonio’s short-term goal anyway. They view the acquisition of Fox as a long-term play and as a means to hasten their rebuilding process, with Victor Wembayama leading this franchise back to the promised land.
20. Orlando Magic (18)
This season is turning out to become a nightmare for Orlando after much hope in October and November. Even with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner playing well, the losses kept piling up. Going 3-7 in their last 10 games, they even decided not to make some deals to improve their play at the NBA trade deadline to improve their rankings.
19. Atlanta Hawks (20)
Winners of three straight, the Hawks suddenly looked like a different team after the trade deadline. Out were De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic, and in were Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Terance Mann, and Bones Hyland. By how things look at the Eastern Conference right now, I will not surprised that they can make a top-six push in the playoffs after the all-star break is done.
18. Phoenix Suns (14)
You can’t fool everybody that Durant’s recent absences are somewhat connected to his name being dangled in the trade deadline. As multiple reports suggested, the Suns locker room after the trade deadline was ‘toxic.’ The momentum they built a couple of weeks ago is now gone. They sit outside the play-in tournament, and they also tumbled in this week’s NBA rankings.
17. Dallas Mavericks (17)
Kudos to Mavs fans for still supporting this team, but with Anthony Davis going down with another injury after barely playing three quarters in his Mavericks debut, the future looks bleak right now. Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington are also out for the foreseeable future. They surely hoped that they still have Luka Doncic on this roster.
16. Sacramento Kings (16)
With De’Aaron Fox gone, the Kings are now without a point guard. We all know that Malik Monk isn’t built to play the point. A playoff berth will be a tough climb for Sacramento, even with Zach LaVine on the roster now. It’s hard to put them in the top 15 of the weekly NBA rankings for now.
15. Miami Heat (14)
Jimmy is gone and no longer a member of the Miami Heat. But we can’t feel too bad for them, though. Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and Davion Mitchell should be able to show their strut to this team moving forward. This is Tyler Herro’s team for now. They should improve their record once the new guys are integrated with the team’s identity.
14. Golden State Warriors (19)
With Jimmy Butler’s acquisition from Miami, the Warriors look like a different team after the trade deadline. Steph Curry looks rejuvenated, and Jimmy continues to do Jimmy things, such as getting to the foul line. They are 2-0 since trading for Butler.
13. Detroit Pistons (13)
Detroit’s biggest acquisition in the trade deadline was getting a Dennis Schroder. Not a bad deal since Jaden Ivey is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to an injury. They have won two straight games to finish week 16 and are just a couple of games for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
12. Milwaukee Bucks (8)
Khris Middleton’s departure to the Wizards for Kyle Kuzma was seen as a horrible trade for this franchise, especially with new reports that Giannis Antetokounmpo may miss a significant amount of time due to an injury. It looks like most of the offensive load on this team for the rest of the season will rest on the shoulders of Damian Lillard. Are the Bucks headed into an ugly offseason?
11. Los Angeles Clippers (9)
The Clippers went 5-5 in their last 10 games with Kawhi Leonard mostly on the court. They’ve added Bogdan Bogdanovic in the trade deadline and signed former all-star Ben Simmons for the rest of the season. They are a top-six team in the West right now, but Minny’s recent hot streak may put a serious dent in their current position.
10. Minnesota Timberwolves (12)
The Wolves may be sitting outside the top six in the West, but their current hot streak had them roaring in this week’s NBA rankings. Anthony Edwards is playing out of his mind and is almost carrying the Wolves on his own on most nights. They went 8-2 in the last 10 games.
9. Indiana Pacers (10)
The Pacers went 7-3 in their last 10 games, but chasing the Knicks for the third spot in the East will be a monumental task for them for the rest of the season. With the Bucks struggling right now, it looks like the Pacers’ effort might just be enough to secure themselves a top-four finish in their conference in April.
8. Houston Rockets (5)
Due to Fred VanVleet’s absence, the Rockets unprecedently went on to lose six straight games before pulling off a close win against Toronto to end week 16. As a result of their recent fumble, they went from 5th spot to 8th spot in this week’s NBA rankings. This team needs a star, but sadly, they don’t currently have one. That might be their biggest Achilles Heel when the competition ramps up before the playoffs.
7. Los Angeles Lakers (8)
The Lakers are on a roll right now. Winners of six straight and going 9-1 in their last 10, they look every bit like a contender. Add Luka Doncic to that mix, and they might have a good chance of winning it all this season. LeBron James is playing out of his mind since turning 40 in late December.
6. New York Knicks (6)
Going 7-3 in their last 10 games, the Knicks certainly look like one of the teams in the East who could potentially make a run against the Cavs or the Celtics. They have the right pieces to do so. As for now, they are sitting comfortably at the third spot in the Eastern Conference.
5. Memphis Grizzlies (4)
The Grizzlies had to take a step back in this week’s rankings due to the sudden emergence of a previous NBA contender in the West – yes, we’re talking about the Nuggets. They lost former DPOY Marcus Smart to a trade to the Wizards for the services of two lottery busts, Marvin Bagley III and Johnny Davis. Hard to picture out a win for them with those deals.
4. Denver Nuggets (5)
Winners of seven straight, the Nuggets are solidifying themselves as true contenders this season. All of the praise should be directed to Nikola Jokic, who again has had a tremendous individual season for the team. Don’t be surprised if the Nuggets will wrestle the second spot in the West from the Grizzlies before the all-star break.
3. Boston Celtics (3)
The Celtics went 7-3 in their last 10 games and have seemingly found the magic back after not playing to their full potential for the first fifteen weeks of this season. They are approaching 40 wins before the all-star break, perhaps joining the Cavs and the Thunder for that record this year.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (1)
Despite winning three straight games, the Cavs took a backseat in this week’s NBA rankings due to another team’s incredible run right before the all-star break. It would not be surprising if they will tear the league apart after the festivities, though, as they just added talented wing De’Andre Hunter at the trade deadline.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (2)
Winners of 8 straight and going 8-2 in their last 10 games, it’s hard to argue that OKC won’t be going all the way to the Finals this season. Their rivals, the Dallas Mavericks, won’t stand in the way after trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers. With Chet Holmgren back, they look as formidable as any contenders in the league.
