NBA Power Rankings: Lakers, Suns, and Mavs rise after big moves at trade deadline

In the latest edition of our NBA Power Rankings, the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and Dallas Mavericks rise after making big moves at the trade deadline. 

The NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone and has left the league with many changes. Over the course of a few days, there were many big changes that will go a long way in shifting the landscape of the league heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

In short, Kevin Durant is now a member of the Phoenix Suns, Kyrie Irving is now a Dallas Maverick, the Toronto Raptors didn’t trade anyone, the Los Angeles Lakers have an entirely new supporting cast around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and several other teams made moves that should help them take another step forward in their progression.

Moving beyond the NBA Trade Deadline

Now that the deadline is officially behind us, the majority of the talking points moving forward will revolve around actual basketball. In other words, we’re heading into the thick of the season where we begin to find out who the true championship contenders are.

There are a few teams that took a firm step forward with their trade deadline moves and three of them are found in the Western Conference. Highlighted by the Lakers, Mavericks, and Suns, we get an early look at where the league hierarchy stands after the deadline. Let’s get to the power rankings.