The bustle of the 2026 commerce deadline is formally behind us as we sit up for the NBA All-Star Weekend.
Anticipate the celebrities to point out up in Los Angeles for a revamped format as three groups, made up of American gamers and worldwide gamers, go head-to-head in one other tournament-style competitors.
Just a few new faces have been added to the coveted rosters, together with Jamal Murray and Chet Holmgren, whereas different family names like Kevin Durant and LeBron James add one other All-Star accolade to their résumés.
After the All-Star break, groups will look to reset, strategizing for the final three months of the common season to determine what it takes to clinch a spot within the postseason or assure an opportunity within the lottery.
Till then, listed below are this week’s NBA energy rankings.
Observe: Group rankings are primarily based on the place members of our panel (ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Dave McMenamin, Jamal Collier, Michael C. Wright, Bobby Marks, Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon, Vincent Goodwill and Zach Kram) assume groups belong.
Earlier rankings: Preseason “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/Oct. 29 “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/Nov. 5 “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/Nov. 12 “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/Nov. 19 “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/Nov. 26 “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/Dec. 3 “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/Dec. 10 “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/Dec. 17 “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/Dec. 24 “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/Dec. 31 “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/Jan. 7 “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/Jan. 14 “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/Jan. 21 “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/Jan. 28 “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/Feb. 4
Leap to a group:
ATL “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/BOS “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/BKN “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/CHA “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/CHI “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/CLE
DAL “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/DEN “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/DET “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/GS “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/HOU “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/IND
LAC “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/LAL “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/MEM “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/MIA “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/MIL “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/MIN
NO “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/NY “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/OKC “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/ORL “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/PHI “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/PHX
POR “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/SAC “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/SA “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/TOR “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/UTAH “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47890213/WAS
Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is out due to an indirect harm and can sit out All-Star Weekend, however Jalen Williams is again after sitting out 10 video games due to a hamstring pressure. His return was a significant component Monday evening in Los Angeles, as he scored 23 factors in 24 minutes throughout a 119-110 win over the Lakers. His surgically repaired proper wrist did look like bothering him after it was hit, however Williams powered via and performed a bodily recreation, incomes 13 free throws. Assuming Gilgeous-Alexander will sit out video games after the break, it might be an opportunity for Williams to discover a rhythm in what has been a uneven and painful season for him up to now. — Anthony Slater
Earlier than James Jones lays down what might be a notable suspension to large man Isaiah Stewart, the Pistons had been arrange for some actual playoff-like assessments within the subsequent few weeks: Toronto, a visit to MSG to tackle a Knicks group they’ve clobbered twice, then San Antonio, Oklahoma Metropolis and the new-look Cavaliers. Buying and selling Jaden Ivey, secondarily, was a vote of confidence for Daniss Jenkins, who was transformed to a two-year deal proper after the commerce deadline. It is a small pattern dimension, however Kevin Huerter, acquired within the Ivey commerce, hasn’t made a 3-point shot however hasn’t missed from two. — Vincent Goodwill
Second-year guard Stephon Fort has regularly improved his shotmaking in three consecutive outings as San Antonio gained 4 in a row, going into a visit out West for a back-to-back in opposition to the Lakers and Warriors, headed into the All-Star break. Victor Wembanyama has posted 24 consecutive double-doubles this season, which ties for sixth within the NBA, and rookies Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant proceed to make strides. Native followers will not get an opportunity to see their hometown group at Frost Financial institution Middle once more till March 5 due to the group’s annual Rodeo Highway Journey. — Michael C. Wright
The Knicks’ eight-game successful streak ended with yet one more 30-point beatdown by the hands of the Pistons. In two video games in opposition to the group that’s one in every of their largest contenders within the East, the Knicks are a minus-69. However OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Cities, who missed that recreation with accidents, are on the mend and will use the upcoming All-Star break to recuperate for the ultimate eight weeks of the common season. Deadline addition Jose Alvarado has already paid dividends, producing 12 factors and two steals of their bounce-back win in Boston on Tremendous Bowl Sunday. An anticipated response from a out of the blue resilient bunch. — Goodwill
Denver’s harm woes continued with Peyton Watson, who’s within the midst of a breakout season, struggling a hamstring pressure that may sideline him for at the least 4 weeks. Denver obtained one key contributor again when Cameron Johnson returned Saturday after lacking 23 video games due to a bone bruise in his knee. The Nuggets are 21-9 with Johnson within the lineup. — Tim MacMahon
Sure, the Celtics made a sequence of strikes to each add Nikola Vucevic and get out of the posh tax, however the true information of the commerce deadline for Boston was Jayson Tatum starting to follow, first within the G League after which with the Celtics this week. If Tatum — and it stays an if — can come again to be anyplace close to his former self, then Boston is a really actual risk to as soon as once more emerge from the East this spring. — Tim Bontemps
Two consecutive residence losses paired with inactivity on the commerce deadline left some followers stressed concerning the Rockets opting in opposition to addressing their deficiency at level guard. Each coach Ime Udoka and normal supervisor Rafael Stone stay assured in Houston’s capability to play high-level basketball and not using a conventional level guard, nonetheless. Tari Eason and All-Star middle Alperen Sengun solely bolstered the brass’ resolve Saturday in opposition to the shorthanded Thunder. Eason poured in a season-high 26 factors, and Sengun dropped his second triple-double of the season. Sengun and Kevin Durant both scored or assisted on 63% of Houston’s factors. — Wright
The primary two video games of the James Harden period in Cleveland are off to a promising begin. Harden is averaging 22.5 factors, 7.5 assists and 6 rebounds on 48% taking pictures (47% from 3) in his first two video games with the Cavs, a pair of wins for a group that has stored on rolling because the begin of 2026. Cleveland has now gained 4 in a row and 9 of their previous 10 video games. Since Jan. 1, the Cavs and Pistons (14-5) are tied with the very best data within the NBA. — Jamal Collier
Luke Kennard stated JJ Redick inspired him to shoot extra of their first dialog after the Lakers traded Gabe Vincent and a future second-round choose to the Hawks for the marksman. And he wasted no time heeding the recommendation, hitting his first 3 in a Lakers uniform simply two minutes into his first recreation with L.A. The Lakers are twenty third within the NBA in made 3s per recreation, and Kennard might be tasked with lifting that quantity. — Dave McMenamin
The Timberwolves had one of many extra attention-grabbing commerce deadlines throughout the NBA final week. They not solely traded Mike Conley — together with a first-round choose swap — to save lots of oodles of money, but additionally traded 4 second-round picks to land Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu to assist the group’s backcourt depth, and are anticipated to re-sign Conley within the coming days. Time will inform if that winds up being sufficient to get Minnesota to a 3rd straight Western Convention finals — or past. — Bontemps
The Raptors are simply 11-15 in opposition to groups with successful data, which is the worst such document for any group within the high six in both convention’s standings. However they’ve continued to handle enterprise in opposition to the groups they need to beat, together with blowout wins in opposition to the Bulls and Pacers over the previous week, and are 21-7 in opposition to groups with dropping data. — Zach Kram
Phoenix acquired Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey from Milwaukee for Nigel Hayes-Davis and Nick Richards on the commerce deadline. For a Suns group that ranks twenty first in bench scoring this season, including a participant like Anthony, who has a profession 12.0 factors per recreation common, provides coach Jordan Ott some pop to go to in his rotation. And Anthony may show further precious if Jalen Inexperienced’s hamstring points persist. — McMenamin
There may be loads of consternation in Philadelphia over the 76ers selecting to commerce Jared McCain to the Thunder for a first-round choose and three second-rounders final week, which allowed the franchise to dip out of the posh tax. Solely time will inform if Daryl Morey’s assertion that the 76ers offered excessive on McCain is correct, however it’s attention-grabbing that Oklahoma Metropolis was the one group inside the highest 10 within the league from a document standpoint that moved a first-round choose so as to add a participant, and that McCain was their option to do it with. — Bontemps
Sending Tyus Jones to Charlotte was a financially motivated transfer by the Magic, because it allowed the group to duck below the posh tax and open flexibility to signal two gamers, with a kind of roster spots going to veteran guard Jevon Carter. Franz Wagner returned within the Magic’s win in opposition to Milwaukee on Monday after coping with an ankle harm this season that has precipitated him to overlook 25 video games. He got here off the bench for the primary time in his profession and scored 14 factors. — Bobby Marks
The shorthanded model of the Warriors did their job this previous week. They twice got here from double digits down within the fourth quarter to beat the Suns and Grizzlies on the buzzer. The wins stored their document respectable sufficient whereas Stephen Curry heals and Kristaps Porzingis, who was acquired forward of the deadline, prepares for his group debut. The Warriors are optimistic that each might be prepared within the first recreation out of the All-Star break on Feb. 19 in opposition to the Celtics. Curry will spend the weekend rehabbing his sore knee, and Porzingis will spend his break in San Francisco working with Rick Celebrini, the group’s lead medical decision-maker. — Slater
The Warmth joined the Rockets and Spurs as the one groups that didn’t make a commerce earlier than the deadline. However simply because Miami was inactive doesn’t imply the entrance workplace is ready with the roster for the rest of the season. The Warmth have an open roster spot and will create one other one in the event that they had been to waive Terry Rozier, who’s on go away after being arrested in October as a part of a federal playing investigation. Until the Warmth benefit from the fourth-easiest schedule publish All-Star break on the courtroom, they’re seemingly a play-in group for the fourth straight season. — Marks
The Hornets have moved right into a play-in spot and appear more likely to keep there, because the group they handed — Chicago — appears worse after the commerce deadline. However Charlotte ran right into a roadblock on Monday: The group’s nine-game successful streak ended in opposition to Detroit, and beginning large males Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges may each be going through suspensions after their involvement in a rowdy struggle in opposition to Pistons large males Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. — Kram
It will be an eventful weekend in Los Angeles for the Blazers contingent. Their sixth-year ahead, Deni Avdija, will make his All-Star debut, incomes honors with a breakout season as a scorer and creator. He is averaging 25.5 factors and 6.7 assists per recreation after by no means averaging greater than 16.9 and three.9, respectively, within the 5 years prior. However all eyes might be on the 3-point contest as Damian Lillard, within the later levels of his Achilles rehab, will take part within the contest — a optimistic signal for his readiness to open subsequent season. — Slater
Atlanta GM Onsi Saleh made it clear that the commerce deadline was about ahead considering. “All the things is future ahead,” he stated. “We did not need the flexibleness that we created in the beginning of the season to be impacted by the deadline, and we felt like we maintained that flexibility.” In 4 separate trades since early January, Atlanta acquired CJ McCollum, Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield — who’s the one participant acquired with an owed wage subsequent season — and Jock Landale. If the Hawks are to make up floor within the standings, it can come by benefiting from the fifth-easiest schedule after the All-Star break. — Marks
When the Clippers traded away James Harden to Cleveland and Ivica Zubac to Indiana on the deadline, after simply coming off a stretch the place they went 17-4 to get again into the playoff image, people across the league questioned if it was a sign that there can be added readability to the NBA’s investigation into Kawhi Leonard’s Aspiration endorsement. Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, in explaining the trades, stated the investigation had nothing to do with the strikes, nonetheless. “It actually would not affect something we do every day,” Frank informed reporters. — McMenamin
After spending a lot of the season wanting destined for a fourth straight look within the play-in event, the Bulls lastly made strikes to get off their treadmill of mediocrity final week, buying and selling Nikola Vucevic, Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, amongst others, as a part of seven offers that introduced in seven new gamers to reshape the roster. It has left the Bulls with an ill-fitting group of principally guards for the remaining 30 video games and has left followers questioning how for much longer — after one playoff victory since 2016 — the Bulls are going to be rebuilding. — Collier
Giannis Antetokounmpo stays in Milwaukee. For that cause, Bucks followers can take a collective exhale till the summer season. And the Bucks aren’t giving up on this season simply but, regardless of remaining at No. 12 within the East. Doc Rivers reiterated the group has no plans to close Antetokounmpo down for the remainder of the season and he might be aiming to return by the tip of the month following the All-Star break. The Bucks additionally picked up some assist for the stretch run, signing former Nets guard Cam Thomas after he was launched final week. Whereas so many groups are beginning to place themselves for the draft, the Bucks have charted their course and stay targeted on chasing the play-in event. — Collier
Basic supervisor Zach Kleiman modified up the look of his group on the commerce deadline by shifting Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. to Utah in an eight-player deal that landed Memphis’ Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang, Walter Clayton Jr. and three future first-round picks. Embattled guard Ja Morant stays on the roster regardless of the group’s makes an attempt to maneuver him. The Grizzlies plan to reevaluate Morant’s injured elbow within the coming days, but it surely’s unclear how the two-time All-Star matches into the group’s future. What is obvious is that Morant must play to revive his league worth for a possible summer season commerce. — Wright
Marvin Bagley III, who was chosen proper earlier than Luka Doncic with the No. 2 choose within the 2018 draft, is on his fifth group after arriving in Dallas as a part of the Anthony Davis commerce. He could have an opportunity to get minutes the remainder of the season in Dallas, and in his debut with the Mavericks, Bagley had 16 factors, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks. — MacMahon
On a two-game successful streak, the Pelicans handed Sacramento its thirteenth consecutive loss Monday whereas producing their NBA-leading twenty second outing with 60-plus paint factors. Rookie Jeremiah Fears is the fourth first-year participant with 10 or extra video games performed whereas recording 20-plus factors, becoming a member of Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and VJ Edgecombe this season. New Orleans hadn’t gained or misplaced by greater than 10 factors in 14 consecutive outings earlier than snapping that streak with the victory over the Kings. Out of the All-Star break, the Pels play three in a row at residence earlier than a six-game street journey out West. — Wright
Jaren Jackson Jr. has made a easy transition since becoming a member of the Jazz on the commerce deadline. He has averaged 22.0 factors in 25 minutes in his first two video games in a Utah uniform. Fairly notably, Jackson did not play a second in each video games’ fourth quarters, sitting alongside Lauri Markkanen in what’s extensively perceived as a blatantly clear technique to enhance its lottery odds. — MacMahon
Is it time to interrupt up the Nets? The larger developments occurred across the commerce deadline for Brooklyn, the place Michael Porter Jr., to nobody’s shock, was not moved. It by no means appeared like all of the groups actually engaged with the Nets, and his $40 million contract for 2026-27 might be a sizzling subject as we head into the summer season. The Cam Thomas experiment ended poorly with the Nets releasing him, but it surely appeared like an ending that ought to have occurred way back. — Goodwill
Final Thursday, the Wizards rested 4 of their 5 starters for the complete fourth quarter in opposition to the East-leading Pistons — and gained anyway, with large video games from reserves Will Riley and Sharife Cooper. However that was a fluke quite than a behavior: Of their different three video games since Feb. 1, the Wizards had been outscored by a mixed 76 factors, dropping their season level differential to an NBA-worst minus-10.7 per recreation. — Kram
Do not count on middle Ivica Zubac to play for his new group anytime quickly. Zubac missed his remaining recreation for the Clippers due to paternity go away, and the Pacers — who’re seemingly angling for the very best lottery odds potential — will maintain him out till he recovers from an ankle harm he has performed via since December. “My understanding from speaking to him is that there is nonetheless one thing there that is not fairly proper,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle stated. “We’re not going to place him on the market till he is actually prepared.” — Kram
The Kings had been blown out by 24 factors by the 15-40 Pelicans in New Orleans on Monday evening — a Sacramento-era franchise document 13 consecutive losses. They’re 3-24 on the street. Even these with low expectations will admit how a lot of a disappointment this season has been. However there are two shiny spots. They’re beginning to play the youth extra. Rookie Nique Clifford had 30 factors two video games in the past, and rookie Maxime Raynaud had 21 factors and 19 rebounds in opposition to the Pelicans. In addition they have management of their first-round choose, which at present profiles as a top-five choice in a loaded draft. — Slater
