{"id":586351,"date":"2026-02-06T13:59:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T13:59:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/586351\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T13:59:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T13:59:11","slug":"western-conference-rankings-post-nba-trade-deadline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/586351\/","title":{"rendered":"Western Conference rankings post NBA trade deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"

There were some big NBA trades ahead of Thursday\u2019s deadline.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But THE big trade didn\u2019t happen.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The frontrunners in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes<\/a> \u2014 Golden State, Miami and Minnesota \u2014 weren\u2019t able entice Milwaukee to pull the trigger on a deal for their big man, which sets the stage for a wild offseason.<\/p>\n

That said, some big names were moved before the deadline, including\u00a0Anthony Davis, James Harden and Kristaps Porzingis.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The frontrunners in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes weren\u2019t able entice Milwaukee to pull the trigger. Michael McLoone-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

That said, some big names were moved, including\u00a0Anthony Davis, James Harden and Kristaps Porzingis (above).\u00a0 NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at how the Western Conference looks after one of the craziest times of the NBA calendar.\u00a0<\/p>\n

CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS<\/p>\n

1. Oklahoma City Thunder: The defending champions have the best record in the West and they just got even better. They acquired Jared McCain<\/a>, which bolsters their ball-handling and perimeter\u00a0shooting. Not to mention, the Clippers dealing James Harden to Cleveland in exchange for Darius Garland benefits them considering they own the Clippers\u2019 unprotected 2026 first-round pick. (The farther the Clippers dip in the standings, the better for them.) The Thunder is the team to watch come June \u2014 and beyond.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2. San Antonio Spurs: After making a splashy move at the trade deadline last year to acquire De\u2019Aaron Fox, the Spurs wanted to move forward with their current roster this time around. With Victor Wembanyama and Fox, they\u2019ve firmly established themselves as contenders, perhaps even earlier than expected.\u00a0<\/p>\n

3. Denver Nuggets: They made a smart move by dealing Hunter Tyson to Brooklyn, which saves them money and doesn\u2019t hurt their bottom line. They have an extra roster spot and will be able to evaluate the buyout market. Look out for Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and co. trying to compete\u00a0for their second championship after winning it all in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves can develop a rhythm, the Lakers could be dangerous. AP<\/p>\n

FRINGE CONTENDERS<\/p>\n

4. Houston Rockets: The Rockets made a splash when they acquired Kevin Durant in the offseason, instantly becoming title contenders. But injuries have greatly stunted those hopes, with Fred VanVleet suffering a torn ACL in Sept. and Steven Adams needing season-ending surgery on his left ankle last month.<\/p>\n

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5. Minnesota Timberwolves: After it became clear they weren\u2019t going to land Antetokounmpo, they switched courses and traded for Ayo Dosunmu<\/a>, who should bolster their bench. Dosunmu is a two-way player who\u2019s averaging 15 points, including career-highs in field goal percentage (51.4 percent) and 3-point percentage (45.1 percent). After losing Nickeil Alexander-Walker last summer, adding Dosunmu makes their bench much stronger.\u00a0<\/p>\n

6. Los Angeles Lakers: It\u2019s no secret that the Lakers are looking toward the offseason when they\u2019ll have three first-round picks and lots of expiring contracts to give them flexibility\u00a0to build around Luka Doncic. But if Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves can develop a rhythm, they could be dangerous in the playoffs. They acquired Luka Kennard, who\u2019s a great 3-point shooter. But they still have some major issues to address on the defensive end.\u00a0<\/p>\n

They were ready to empty the cupboard for Antetokounmpo, including being willing to trade Draymond Green. NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

PLAY-IN TEAMS<\/p>\n

7. Phoenix Suns: They\u2019re arguably the biggest surprise in the league this season. They\u2019ve greatly exceeded expectations since dealing Durant and waiving Bradley Beal, and are in seventh place with a record of 31-20. The Suns made a few moves ahead of the deadline to put themselves below the luxury tax threshold. This is a sleeper team to watch.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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8. Golden State Warriors: They were ready to empty the cupboard for Antetokounmpo, including being willing to trade Draymond Green, who was previously deemed untradable. But alas, the Bucks were just a giant tease and Steph Curry didn\u2019t get his dream running-mate. At least the Warriors shed their Jonathan Kuminga problem, trading him to Atlanta for Kristaps Porzingis. It was a good move for the Warriors considering Kuminga had been reduced to being a bench ornament. If Porzingis can get healthy, it could be a really good move.\u00a0<\/p>\n

9. Portland Trail Blazers: They were expected to be bigger buyers, with their only move being acquiring sharpshooter Vit Krejci from Atlanta. Is this helpful? Yes. Will this move the needle for a franchise competing in the very crowded West that has been hampered by injuries? No.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bye bye any chance of Kawhi Leonard playing meaningful\u00a0basketball this season NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE<\/p>\n

10. LA Clippers: Bye bye James Harden and Ivica Zubac. And bye bye any chance of Kawhi Leonard playing meaningful\u00a0basketball this season after he led the team on a 17-5 run following their dismal 6-21 start. The Clippers are clearly looking toward their future. They acquired Darius Garland, who\u2019s 10 years younger than Harden but has been struggling with a toe injury, as well as the 23-year-old Bennedict\u00a0Mathruin, two first-round picks and one second-round pick.\u00a0<\/p>\n

11. Dallas Mavericks: They shed Davis\u2019 massive salary so they can go all in on building around Cooper Flagg. It was the right move. That said, it\u2019s very sad that they traded a generational talent in Doncic to essentially end up with Max Christie, the No. 30 pick in the 2026 draft, the Lakers\u2019 2029 first, the Warriors\u2019 first in 2030 (if 21-30) and three second-round picks. The Mavs hoped Davis was a win-now move, adding elite two-way talent to a team with Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson. But Davis\u2019 campaign with the team was thwarted by numerous injuries. \u00a0<\/p>\n

12. Memphis Grizzlies: The Grizzlies shed Jaren Jackson Jr.\u2019s contract while gaining three first-round picks. They have a ton of financial flexibility and some valuable assets to start retooling their team. They didn\u2019t find a buyer for Ja Morant, though.\u00a0<\/p>\n

13. Utah Jazz: They acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. from Memphis in exchange for four players and three first-round picks. They\u2019re clearly hoping to start competing next season, with Jackson joining Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, Keyonte George and Ace Bailey.\u00a0<\/p>\n

14. New Orleans Pelicans: The award for leaving your fanbase the most frustrated goes to this team. They\u2019re 13-40 and have the second-worst record in the league, yet they didn\u2019t sell big at the trade deadline. They traded Jose Alvarado to New York, but they still don\u2019t have a first-round pick in the 2026 draft.\u00a0<\/p>\n

15. Sacramento Kings: The deadline has come and gone and Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine are still with the team despite all of the chatter around them. They acquired De\u2019Andre Hunter, but he\u2019s not going to change things for this team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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