Post-NBA trade-deadline power rankings: Who follows Celtics in top 10?

4. Minnesota Timberwolves (36-16) | Previous: 3

Minnesota didn't make a big splash at the deadline, but it did beef up its backcourt by adding Monte Morris, who has shown an ability to control bench units. It's a nice upgrade, and Minnesota didn't need to do anything else. But keeping up with the offensive firepower that other teams on this list possess will be a tough task when May and June roll around.

5. Los Angeles Clippers (34-16)  | Previous: 6

Denver, OKC, Minnesota and Los Angeles are ranked two, three, four and five on this list, respectively, but arguments can be made for that quartet being slotted in any order. The Clippers' rough start with James Harden feels like it took place in a different lifetime, because since falling to 9-10 on Dec. 2, the Clips are 25-6, good for an .806 winning percentage.

6. New York Knicks (33-19) | Previous: NR

Who saw this coming? From October through December, New York was a perfectly fine team. Since the calendar turned to 2024, it is one of the league's best — and reinforcements are on the way. Deadline additions Bojan Bogdanovic (41.5 percent 3PT) and Alec Burks (40.1 percent 3PT) bring high-level movement shooting to a team that's already established itself as elite on defense. It feels weird to have the Knicks ranked this high, but Tom Thibodeau's team appears ready to compete with anyone.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers (34-16) | Previous: NR

Cleveland is right alongside New York and the Clippers for hottest team in the league. Losing one game in over a month is a pretty good way to shoot up the power rankings. The Cavs stayed put at the deadline, showing trust in the players who have gotten them to this point. While their current hot streak (15 wins over past 16 games) is not sustainable, the Cavs do belong in the top tier of the East. 

8. Phoenix Suns (31-21)| Previous: NR

Slowly but surely the Suns are figuring how to operate with three stars (Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal) on the floor. After loitering around .500 for awhile, Frank Vogel's team is starting to handle teams like it should, winning 16 of its past 22 games. A deadline-day deal for Royce O'Neale of the Nets deepened a bench that sorely needed shooting, passing and defensive smarts. 

9. New Orleans Pelicans (30-21) | Previous: 8

Please let this team have one healthy playoff run — just one! New Orleans owns the eighth-best defensive rating in the league, and has stayed mostly consistent after a shaky, injury-riddled start to the season. Trey Murphy (12.7 PPG) isn't having the breakout season many expected, but there's still time for him to get on track. Are he, Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum powerful enough to break through in the postseason?

10. Milwaukee Bucks (33-19) | Previous: 5

Doc Rivers' team might be in the danger zone. Milwaukee is just 2-5 since he took over for the fired Adrian Griffin, the defense is still in the bottom 10 of the NBA, the bench does not look like a unit you can trust in the playoffs and a deadline addition of Patrick Beverley — a fine move — will not solve everything.