2024-25 Vendetta NBA Power Rankings: February

2024-25 Vendetta NBA Power Rankings: February

Can you believe how fast time flies? The 2024-25 NBA Trade Deadline has officially passed and there is roughly two months left in the regular season! It’s power ranking time! Let’s dive into this month’s rankings, shall we?

(Editor’s note: All player/team/lineup stats are from Basketball Reference, NBA.com and PBP Stats unless stated otherwise.)

30. Washington Wizards

Last month: 30

The Wizards are bad news bears. They are 9-44 on the season–five games back of the second-worst team in the East–including 4-19 with a minus-13.2 NET Rating since the start of the New Year. They also oddly acquired Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart ahead of the trade deadline, which made for this very funny ESPN Graphic. I hope neither stunts the growth of Carlton Carrington or Bilal Coulibaly, who have been two of their best young pieces this season.

29. Utah Jazz

Last month: 26

The Jazz have now fully committed to the Isaiah Collier experience at point guard. I’ve been impressed, too. Over his last 15 games, the No. 29 overall pick has averaged 12.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 8.8 assists (to just 3.4 turnovers) on 46.2 percent shooting. He still needs to work on his long-range efficiency, but the 6-foot-2 guard is further along than I would’ve expected at this point of the season, climbing into top-10 rookie conversations.

28. New Orleans Pelicans

Last month: 29

The Pelicans have been hammered by injuries all season. I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but that’s the current state of their franchise. They acquired Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk plus two picks in the Brandon Ingram trade. All things considered, that’s an OK return. Zion Williamson is also averaging 26.7 points and 6.0 rebounds in 27.1 minutes per game since returning, though the lineups between he and rookie Yves Missi have been clunky offensively, which is not ideal in the short- or long-term.

27. Brooklyn Nets

Last month: 24

The Nets are winners of five of their last six against Charlotte (twice), Houston (twice) and Miami, outscoring the Heat 31-9 in the fourth quarter. Yet, they are still a bottom-four team in the East with the NBA’s third-worst NET Rating since the start of January. They didn’t trade Cam Johnson at the deadline, though it will behoove them to do so in the future to maximize the value in return. We aren’t privy to the conversations, but I wonder what a few of those offers were.

26. Charlotte Hornets

Last month: 27

Despite having a near-even NET (minus-1.1) in January, the Hornets have sunk to 13-38 and are losers of 10 of their last 12 games. They also have a Mark Williams fiasco on their hands after he failed a physical with the Lakers upon getting traded there. It will likely be much more difficult to move the 7-foot-2 athletic big in the future unless he remains perfectly healthy. What an awkward situation that is for both sides.

Hornets ‘exploring options’ to dispute Mark Williams’ failed physical with Lakers

25. Toronto Raptors

Last month: 28

The Raptors have been so much fun to watch the last month defensively, having been a top-4 unit since Jan. 12. The head of the snake was Davion Mitchell, who’s since been traded to the Miami Heat. But players like rookies Jamal Shead and Jonathan Mogbo, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Ochai Agbaji, Gradey Dick and Jakob Poeltl have all been incredibly connected on that end of the floor–which is a great sight to see. I still don’t get the Brandon Ingram trade, though.

24. Portland Trail Blazers

Last month: 25

Yes, the Portland Trail Blazers are up to 23-31 and have won 10 of their last 13 games. No, that is not a typo. Their offense has been a middle-of-the-pack unit over that span, but their defense and their rebounding have been one of the NBA’s best, limiting opponents to 108 points per 100 possessions. If extrapolated over a full season, their aforementioned defensive rating would be the second-best in the NBA. Do I think that’s sustainable? No. But credit to head coach Chauncey Billups and his staff for rallying the troops together, even though I still have gripes with how they’ve developed their young players in recent years.

23. Atlanta Hawks

Last month: 16

It’s a bummer that Jalen Johnson is now out for the season. You could make a legitimate argument that he’s been the team’s best player this year. It’s now time to lean into the youth–particularly Zaccharie Risacher. Yes, that’s even after they acquired Caris LeVert and Georges Niang at the deadline. While Atlanta is still the 8th seed, it’s a lost season.

22. Chicago Bulls

Last month: 23

The Bulls are one of the most confounding organizations in the NBA. I don’t understand their asset management or roster construction–they have seven legitimate point/combo guards (Tre Jones, Lonzo Ball, Josh Giddey, Kevin Huerter, Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White and Jevon Carter). Nikola Vucevic also did everything to rehabilitate his value, but he wasn’t dealt at the deadline. At least rookie Matas Buzelis has blossomed lately.

21. Philadelphia 76ers

Last month: 22

The 76ers have lost six of their last seven, but are still 1.5 games out of the play-in chase in the East. Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George have still only played in 13 of their 53 games. That’s a huge issue, especially with Embiid’s consistent knee issues. On a more positive note, they acquired Quentin Grimes and added second-round pick capital at the deadline, so it’s not all bad. They’re still in the hunt, but they need their best players to be available.

Daryl Morey Is Confident The 76ers Will Re-Sign Guerschon Yabusele

20. Phoenix Suns

Last month: 20

The Phoenix Suns are a legitimate mess with the Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal situations. They made marginal upgrades in their frontcourt at the deadline, but are still one game below .500 with the likelihood that they’re going to have to trade Durant over the summer if they want more flexibility since Beal’s contract is practically untradeable. Bol Bol’s been awesome the last three games, however, which is fun!

19. Orlando Magic

Last month: 8

It has not been a good trek for the Orlando Magic, Vendetta’s team. They are 6-15 since the turn of the calendar with the NBA’s second-worst NET Rating. Paolo Banchero has been the more inconsistent player between he and Franz Wagner since their respective returns from groin injuries. But it hasn’t amounted to much, since it owns the NBA’s worst offense with the third-worst effective field goal and true-shooting percentages over their last 10 games.

18. Miami Heat

Last month: 21

Miami traded Butler ahead of the trade deadline and got back Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, Kyle Anderson and a protected first-round pick. That’s a good return for a player who didn’t want to be there. But they have been a bottom-five offense since the start of January, and I don’t necessarily see that floor improving much with this group. This team may still be mediocre, but I like the pieces around Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware than I did with a joyless Jimmy. It’s now time to see how they bridge this build in the ensuing seasons.

17. San Antonio Spurs

Last month: 15

While San Antonio has dropped to No. 17, that’s indicative of their future. They were one of my trade deadline winners because they acquired De’Aaron Fox without having to give up any of their top assets. They are 2-2 since he arrived and are still trying to figure out combinations that work, but I expect them to challenge Phoenix, Golden State and Sacramento in the play-in race by season’s end.

2024-25 NBA Trade Deadline Winners and Losers

16. Detroit Pistons

Last month: 16

The Pistons eviscerated the Chicago Bulls Tuesday and are currently 1.5 games up on the Miami Heat for the sixth-and-final non-play-in spot in the Eastern Conference. Cade Cunningham’s been a monster over his last 20 games, too. He’s averaging 27.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 9.2 assists over that stretch, shooting 46.2 percent from the floor, 32.2 percent from 3-point range (5.9 3PA) and 90.7 percent from the free-throw line over that stretch.

15. Sacramento Kings

Last month: 19

I can’t say I loved the Kings’ return in the De’Aaron Fox trade, because I didn’t. Zach LaVine has gotten off to a slow start efficiency-wise, but DeMar DeRozan hasn’t missed a beat and we’re seeing a playmaking surge from Malik Monk we haven’t seen–even though he’s long been one of the most underrated passers across the NBA. Sacramento has cooled off since winning 10 of 11 in early-to-mid January, but is still in the thick of the play-in race in the West.

14. Dallas Mavericks

Last month: 7

My heart goes out to Mavs fans, assuming you still have an interest in basketball or sports in general. Nico Harrison ripped the hearts out of fans globally by trading Luka Doncic; it didn’t help that Davis immediately got hurt in his team debut and is expected to miss significant time. Their frontcourt is beat up right now. 

Rob Pelinka intially thought Nico Harrison was joking regarding Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis swap

13. Golden State Warriors

Last month: 10

The Golden State Warriors added former Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler in a five-team blockbuster the night before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. So far, the benefits have paid off. Golden State was a bottom-four team in free-throw rate. Since his debut–albeit a two-game sample–Golden State is second in FTs attempted per 100 possessions (31.9) with the fifth-most efficient offense. We’ll see if that sustains itself, but it appears Butler’s found his joy!

12. Indiana Pacers

Last month: 14

Don’t look now, but Indiana has the seventh-best defense since the New Year and the 15th-best unit since the start of December. That’s a drastic improvement from where this group was last year. It wasn’t good Wednesday night against New York sans Myles Turner, but I think we’re finally starting to see it come together. They were pretty quiet at the deadline outside of adding Thomas Bryant in December and trading James Wiseman to Toronto. 

11. Minnesota Timberwolves

Last month: 17

The Timberwolves may have made the top-11 in this month’s rankings, but I am not a believer in this team one bit. Anthony Edwards is having to put up 40-plus point games to keep this team even in the game; in Monday’s case, that wasn’t even the case. At least the ownership dispute between owner Glen Taylor and Alex Rodriguez is now settled, but Minnesota is going to need more than just Edwards (and Jaden McDaniels) to step up for the next two-plus months.

10. Milwaukee Bucks

Last month: 13

The Bucks ducked below the luxury tax at the trade deadline–though it came at the cost of flipping Middleton to the Washington Wizards. I’m expecting Kyle Kuzma–on a team-friendly contract for the next three years–to be more bought in with Milwaukee than he was with Washington. I also didn’t love them trading them rookie AJ Johnson nor bringing in Kevin Porter Jr., but homecourt is still in sight with 30 games left in the season.

9. Los Angeles Clippers

Last month: 11

Similar to their crosstown rivals, I definitely underestimated how good the Clippers would be this season. Their offense has been murky despite James Harden’s exceptional playmaking, but they have the NBA’s second-best defense behind Ivica Zubac, Norman Powell, Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr., among others. They added shooting with Bogdan Bogdanovic, though I am not sure how productive he will be at this stage of his career. They’re going to a feisty out.

8. Los Angeles Lakers

Last month: 12

Yes, the Lakers ascended into the top-8 in this month’s rankings. I didn’t think I would be saying this–but Luka Doncic is a Los Angeles Laker! He impressed in his debut, despite only playing 24 minutes with some shooting rust he had to shake off. Alex Len is just a short-term body in the frontcourt. But I must give Los Angeles credit: It has climbed to a top-4 seed in the West with a top-3 defense over the last month. JJ Redick’s done a great job.

Draymond Green believes Luka Doncic trade is byproduct of new CBA

7. Houston Rockets

Last month: 6

Amen Thompson is an emerging star. The former top-5 overall pick is averaging 17.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.5 blocks on 53.4 percent shooting and 59.2 percent true shooting over his last 18 games. He’s already one of the best athletes in the NBA with insanely fluid movements, instincts, promising vision and improved shooting touch. You can’t teach the physical tools he possesses–and he’s only continuing to get better.

6. Denver Nuggets

Last month: 9

It was bold for Calvin Booth to name the exact players his team was trying to trade ahead of the deadline in his first media availability post-deadline. That certainly won’t come back to bite him when he’s trying to move them again, right? Anyway, it’s encouraging to see Jamal Murray play more consistently good basketball after his slow start–in addition to Michael Porter Jr., Russell Westbrook and Julian Strawther. Oh, and Nikola Jokic makes looking 30-13-10 on 66.7 percent true shooting look way too easy.

5. New York Knicks

Last month: 4

While they’ve had the fourth-best offense, the Knicks have had the ninth-worst defense with the third-worst effective field goal percentage allowed since Jan. 1. They haven’t been disruptive defensively nor has the rim protection been as stout as it was last year. Thankfully, Mitchell Robinson, who has yet to play this season, will be on his way back soon, which will make their frontcourt rotation sturdier and bigger.

4. Memphis Grizzlies

Last month: 5

Despite still being oft-injured, the Grizzlies are currently on-pace to win 55 games for the fourth time in 13 seasons. Jaren Jackson Jr., who is extension eligible this offseason, is averaging 23.2 points and 6.0 rebounds on 49.7/36.6/77.4 shooting splits, in addition to 1.3 steals and 1.6 blocks. He’s been their best player this season. Don’t forget about second-round rookie Jaylen Wells, who would be my pick to finish second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Stephon Castle if the season ended today.

Zach Kleiman Put On A Disasterclass Asset Management Clinic With Marcus Smart

3. Boston Celtics

Last month: 3

Boston’s hit a slight rut, but got back on track Monday against the New York Knicks on Saturday and a reeling Miami Heat Monday. They have the ninth-best offense and fifth-best defense since the turn of the calendar, going 14-7. I’m not worried about their long-term prospects; this team is waiting for the real season in April and May, not February.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers

Last month: 2

The Cleveland Cavaliers swung for the fences by adding 3-and-D wing De’Andre Hunter ahead of the trade deadline. They have been the best team in the East this season and their three-year window is firmly open, though will it be enough to topple Boston in a seven-game series? That’s the golden question, should they eventually meet up. I think it would make for a great series, depending on how healthy each team is.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

Last month: 1

The Thunder are a machine. They’re 43-9 and went 33-7–a 68-win pace–with a 106.6 defensive rating and 12.9 NET (!!) rating without Chet Holmgren before he returned this week. That’s not an indictment on Holmgren, either. That’s an indictment of how insanely productive, deep and connected the Thunder are, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.

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