While James was quick to squash the narrative that the Lakers' 117-96 win over the defending champion Celtics meant anything beyond a regular season victory in January, it's no secret that the Lakers have been on a heater as of late.

The 2025 NBA trade deadline started in earnest with the trade bombshell that seemed so ludicrous, fans and players alike thought someone was playing a prank: Luka Dončić being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team deal that also included Anthony Davis going to the Dallas Mavericks.

Welcome to a fresh set of HoopsHype Power Rankings! As always, these involve a proprietary mix of science, magic, herbs, and spices; they’re both reflective of the standings and forward-looking.

Every year there are NBA players that are whisked away just before games tip off because of a trade — or even are traded during the course of a game they are playing in. Coaches are asked questions they know they can’t answer,

Now that pencils are down and trade calls have been made, let’s take stock of what each East team did and how it affects their place in the playoff race.

The NBA trade deadline is always hectic. Over the last few years, teams have regularly made tons of trades, and a bunch of stars have been moved. This year, the drama was even crazier than normal. After all,