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.

We also had a Donatas Motiejūnas trade in 2016 get rescinded due to back issues. The Rockets traded him to Detroit, but the Pistons voided the deal. It was the second time these two teams were involved in a voided trade. The Pistons traded Sean Elliot to the Rockets for Robert Horry and Matt Bullard in 1994, but Elliot failed his physical.

The NBA trade deadline definitely had its share of winners and losers. The losers are mostly teams who were inactive when they should have been active, or unable to make moves because they are in the daunted second apron.

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,