NBA power rankings: New York Knicks rise to top 5 after trade deadline

Bad 2025 NBA predictions NBA predictions from 2025 we want to take back. The NBA trading deadline has come and gone and a handful of teams improved their positioning for the back half of the 2025-26 NBA season. And with the NBA All-Star break coming up at the end of the week, it will offer teams a bit of a respite and chance to recharge before the grind continues. The most fascinating teams to watch are the ones who bought before the deadline — the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets, for example — to see whether their moves can lead to tangible gains in the future. Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 15 of the...