NBA power rankings pre Trade Deadline edition: Will De’Aaron Fox be dealt?

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Sacramento Kings are willing to listen to offers for All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox, which could change the complexion of the league if he’s dealt. We’ll take a look at a few teams who might pull the trigger for him within our power rankings, but as usual, we’ll start at the very bottom of the league with the putrid, horrific…

There aren’t enough bad words to describe just how futile the Wizards have been this season. Washington isn’t just losing at a record pace; they’re getting run out of the building on a nightly basis. Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey is being proven correct, as he wrote in December 2024, “The Washington Wizards aren’t just the worst NBA team in 2024-2025. They may be trending toward being one of the worst teams we’ve ever seen.”

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor opined in a recent podcast that the Jazz might be tanking for draft picks this year and next, in hopes of keeping local prized prospect A.J. Dybansta in Utah. That’s a lot of losing for fans to stomach, and it’s a little depressing. With the future in mind, look for Danny Ainge to deal veteran Jordan Clarkson away at the trade deadline now that he’s healthy.

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It turns out the story in 2025 for the Hornets is very much the same as it was in 2024 and 2023. LaMelo Ball has once again tweaked his ankle, and it seems like there’s a good chance we won’t see him again until after the All-Star break. Ankle sprains have been the bane of his existence, which continues to beg questions about his ability to stay healthy.

The Nets sent Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster trade in February 2023, and Brooklyn may nearly be finished re-packaging the players they received in that deal. They’ve already sent Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks for a bevy of draft picks, and will likely look to bring back a similar haul in a Cameron Johnson trade. Johnson is a hot name during this cycle.

The Blazers have shown improvement in January, winning five out of six games in a late-month stretch. It feels like head coach Chauncey Billups has figured out how to use some of the pieces on his talented but unusual roster. For what it’s worth, NBA analyst Vince Carter has lauded the play of Anfernee Simons, who he feels would help many contending teams.

Toronto is another team with something to feel good about as we close out the month of January. They’ve compiled their longest winning streak of the season, and might be looking to shake things up at the deadline. Sporting News’ Jonah Kubicek believes that Toronto is considering making a play for Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram.

Speaking of the Pelicans, New Orleans has also looked much better since their team has gotten healthier. Unfortunately, it’s too little too late, as the team has dug themselves too deep of a hole to climb out of. Whether it’s Ingram or someone else, ESPN’s Bobby Marks believes that New Orleans is going to dramatically change their team in the coming week before the deadline.

File the 76ers under the “we need to see it to believe it” category. They’ve alternated long win streaks with long losing streaks, and the only consistency they’ve shown is that they’ve been inconsistent. There doesn’t seem to be any end in sight for Joel Embiid’s nagging knee issues, which ultimately caps the franchise’s potential.

Expanding on his De’Aaron Fox report, ESPN’s Shams Charania said, “league sources tell me that the San Antonio Spurs are De’Aaron Fox’s preferred destination.” It would seem like a fantastic fit, given that the team is looking for a long term answer at point guard. Pairing him with Victor Wembanyama would be a scary proposition for the rest of the NBA.

The Bulls can beat any team in the NBA on any given night, but their exciting group of players has not yielded much in the way of success. As we approach another trade deadline, the Bulls’ front office is faced with the question of blowing things up in order to retool, or run it back with the same cast of characters.

After a strong start to the season, the Hawks appear to have had their wings clipped. They’re on a long losing skid, and are dealing with the news that star forward Jalen Johnson will be out for the rest of the season. That means that Atlanta will have to rely on rookie Zaccharie Risacher, who has just re-entered the lineup after an injury of his own.

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Sam Vecenie of The Athletic wrote in late January that he’d love to see Lonzo Ball traded to the Pistons. That seems like a bit of a questionable fit, but the notion that Detroit will be buyers at the deadline seems to be gaining momentum. The Ringer’s Bill Simmons thinks that Detroit is a prime destination for Brooklyn’s Cameron Johnson.

Matthew Schmidt of Sports Illustrated wrote that the team seems to be “very interested in trading for former UCLA star and current Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine.” While LaVine has had an impressive and healthy bounce back campaign, it feels like the type of desperate move Stephen Curry advised the Warriors not to make.

Amidst the fun of predicting where De’Aaron Fox might get traded to is the underlying question; why would Sacramento trade him in the first place? A 27-year-old All-Star in his prime doesn’t often come available on the market, and the Kings would almost assuredly throw away any chance they have at the playoffs by dealing him. It’s a suspect decision at best, unless he has demanded a trade.

The Heat are also in the midst of their own trade drama. Jimmy Butler has done everything under the sun to communicate how unhappy he is with Miami, and the franchise appears to have their hands tied. Pat Riley doesn’t like to operate under threats, but Butler’s actions have left him with no choice. Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas said, “yeah, I think Pat hasn’t updated his software.”

Phoenix might be the most disappointing team in the NBA, considering the grand expectations they and everyone else had for them. Phoenix has long been rumored as a landing spot for Jimmy Butler, but it’s unclear how a move for him would come to fruition. The Suns are going to have to look long and hard at their plan in the coming years.

After their respective oblique injuries, Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero are both back in the lineup for Orlando. Now that the team is relatively whole, ClutchPoints’ Jedd Pagaduan wants to see them make a push for De’Aaron Fox. This would be a fantastic landing spot for him, as the Magic have long sought a point guard who could take pressure off Banchero and Wagner.

When healthy, the Mavericks have as high a ceiling as nearly any team in the league. However, things have not exactly gone their way. Dallas learned that center Derrick Lively will be out for possibly as long as three months with a foot injury, and Luka Doncic hasn’t returned from a calf injury he suffered on Christmas. There’s still a chance the Mavericks could be dangerous, but they’ll have to hope they can get healthy sooner rather than later.

There’s a strange narrative coming out of Indiana, who has played great basketball since the new year. It seems like they’re willing to move Bennedict Mathurin. Los Angeles Times reporter Dan Woike believes that if the Pacers are offered a first round pick for his services, there’s a good chance he could be on the move.

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch was ejected from Minnesota’s January 29 victory over the Phoenix Suns, but he and the rest of his team is finally showing some fight that was missing early on in the year. Minnesota remains an unheralded sleeper in the West, and will be a team to closely monitor during the second half of the season.

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It’s unlikely that Lakers coach J.J. Redick is going to throw Bronny James into a meaningful spot in a game anytime soon. He did that in a late January contest at Philadelphia, and Bronny really struggled. “He didn’t play well, but he’s been playing great in the stay-ready games and in the G League.” Bronny finished that game 0-5 shooting with three turnovers.

He’s probably not going to win Coach of the Year, but Tyronn Lue has done a fantastic job in Los Angeles this season. The Clippers were expected to take a step back this season, but Lue has surprisingly led them to a top six record in the West. With that said, their ultimate fortunes are tied to the health of Kawhi Leonard.

The Grizzlies have one of the deepest teams in the NBA, and appear to have found a diamond in the rough with rookie Jaylen Wells. He’s become one of the better perimeter defenders in the league. LaMelo Ball told the Memphis Commercial Appeal about Wells, “he plays real hard. Face-guarding, all that type of stuff.” Wells could become very important for Memphis in playoff games.

For as well as Milwaukee has played for the last month or two, there are still many skeptics who believe the Bucks need to reset their roster to make another title run. Sports Illustrated’s Matthew Schmidt took a closer look at whether they would make a run at Miles Bridges of the Hornets. It would be an intriguing transaction, depending on what they would have to give up.

If there’s one thing the Nuggets are going to be looking for at the deadline, it’s shooting. Taylor Hunt of Last Word on Sports highlighted their lack of three point shooting weapons as a liability in late January, and it’ll allow defenses to collapse on Nikola Jokic. The good news is, it may not cost much to bring in a prolific spot shooter for the stretch run.

Christopher L. Gasper of The Boston Globe asked, “Coach Joe Mazzulla keeps downplaying the Celtics’ malaise, but is that really the correct approach?” Boston appears to be going through the motions, and likely believes they can turn it on whenever they want. The defending champions are still a force to be reckoned with, but fans would like to see them play with greater intensity.

The Knicks have made a statement during the last week of January, beating the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets at home convincingly. What might be more encouraging for New York fans is Tom Thibodeau’s tweaked rotations. He’s allowing bench players to get in the game earlier, which fans have clamored for.

Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has the big picture in mind when it comes to Isaac Okoro’s injury recovery. He said, “I want him thinking long term. We need him down the road.” It’s a great point, as Okoro is one of the few Cleveland players with size and defensive chops on the perimeter. Okoro’s versatility will be a weapon for Atkinson if the former’s shoulder can get right this spring.

The Rockets have announced that they aren’t just one of the best future bets in the NBA; they’re here now and here to stay. Houston has defeated Cleveland twice, and Boston on the road in a thrilling game where Amen Thompson hit a game-winning shot. The Rockets have been rumored as a De’Aaron Fox destination, but it might be more fun for them to stand pat and see where the current group can take them.

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Former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins said on a recent show, “I think it’s unanimous, I think (Gilgeous-Alexander) deserves it. No knock to Nikola Jokic, but SGA has just been dominant all year.” A lot of people likely agree with Cousins, as Gilgeous-Alexander finally appears to be getting the acclaim he’s deserved for the past couple years.