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.

The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the NBA trade deadline with a couple of needs, and they filled one of them with their big move for De'Andre Hunter. The Cavaliers already owned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference prior to the trade,

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,

Is it crazy that as unpredictably insane as last week’s NBA trade deadline was, with Luka Doncic — LUKA. DONCIC. — De’Aaron Fox, De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and others being dealt (including Mark Williams,