Power Rankings: Quiet deadline produces winners, losers

Updated Feb. 27

Understand why so many teams didn't make drastic changes at the trade deadline. The upcoming draft is strong, luxury tax concerns are prevalent, and it seems to be more of a hassle to make a fair trade than ever before. Deals are often swaps of bad contracts, and no one wants to be the next sucker to give up young talent for Steve Francis.

Erring on the safe side was the right move for most. But a few teams should have thrown caution to the wind in order to take advantage of current opportunities.

Just because there wasn't much action around the deadline doesn't mean we can't have a few trade deadline losers and winners.

Bulls leading scorer Ben Gordon stays put, and that's good for the team. (AP)

Chicago made the right move keeping future All-Stars Luol Deng and Ben Gordon, the reported asking price for Pau Gasol, but still should have filled its need for low-post offense. Shareef Abdur-Rahim was a strong candidate, but John Paxson decided that having his contract for the next couple of seasons was not something he wanted. That might have been the right move for the long-term. Short-term, the veteran forward would have been a great asset, supplying an offensive option off the bench they don't have with P.J. Brown and Tyrus Thomas.

Cleveland was another loser, but not for lack of trying. Danny Ferry had the right idea, willing to gamble for the chance to win now. In making a play for Mike Bibby, the Cavaliers were attempting to grab the wide open East by the throat. Instead, they'll have to go with rookie Daniel Gibson and veteran Eric Snow. That combination doesn't exactly strike fear in opponents' hearts.

Phoenix and Dallas also missed the boat on spending to add a key piece or two for the stretch run. The Suns could have used another athletic big body and a steady backup guard, but opted to stick with their current group. The Mavericks were in the market for another post defender/rebounder, but wound up staying put as well, even ridding themselves of a veteran, third-string point guard Anthony Johnson.

Detroit was a team many thought would move a veteran like Nazr Mohammed, Dale Davis or Flip Murray, but ended up keeping them all. Good move. Considering Joe Dumars didn't get an offer he deemed worthy, he might as well stockpile quality bodies that could come in handy.

Denver really wanted to trade a big body like Eduardo Najera or Reggie Evans for a shooter, but never got a deal it liked. This works in the Nuggets' favor. Although Marcus Camby and Nene are healthy and productive now, both are injury prone. At least now there's insurance behind them. Besides, isn't it time they trot out Voshon Lenard for the 17th time?

Philadelphia holding on to Andre Miller was also the correct call. It's hard to find a point guard of his caliber, and although he might help Sixers win a couple more games than they would like to, putting a dent into their lottery chances, he'll pay dividends down the road. Philadelphia has done enough housecleaning, ridding itself of Allen Iverson and Chris Webber.

Finally, the biggest winners are the New Jersey Nets, who made the biggest statement by standing still. If Rod Thorn couldn't pluck a piece like Andrew Bynum, he was right to keep his aces for use down the line. Now was not the time to pull the plug, even if Vince Carter walks at season's end. Rather than give him away, the Nets might as well do some hard selling in hopes he'll return.

If nothing else, it does keep hope alive.

The week's Power Rankings:

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Lakers · Trends	1
	Knicks, Warriors, Nets -- it's been a while since Lakers faced a real team. ... Best passing big man in game? Pau Gasol averaging 4.2 assists.
	2	Magic · Trends	2
	Battle of Florida, Round 1, ends in controversy; no Magic in referee's non-call. ... Last road loss: Nov. 8 at Oklahoma City.
	3	Suns · Trends	5
	Tweet: NBA blows whistle on multitasking Amare Stoudemire, but he says he's innocent (and $7,500 poorer). ... Average score in four-game win streak: 119-98.
	4	Cavaliers · Trends	3
	LeBron in the NFL? Might be great tight end, but why take paycut?. ... No consistency: Inexcusable losses at Toronto, Washington, Charlotte.
	5	Celtics · Trends	7
	Truth has $30,000 price: Rasheed Wallace labels "Turkododo" a flopper. ... Time to get serious: Kevin Garnett ties season-high with 35 minutes in win at Miami.
	6	Hawks · Trends	4
	First crack: Joe Johnson shoots 23 for 66, club loses three of four. ... Easy to figure out these guys: 9-1 when scoring 100 or more, 3-4 when held to double digits.
	7	Mavericks · Trends	8
	Wrong side of history: Warriors play just six players, win at Dallas. ... Blowout loss to Cavs nothing new: That's four straight by average of 17.5 points.
	8	Nuggets · Trends	6
	M-V-P? Fans shout it out as Carmelo Anthony scorches Knicks for 50. ... Shocking end to 17-game home streak; club had beaten Timberwolves 10 straight.
	9	Jazz · Trends	11
	Carlos Boozer averaging 23.7-11.1 double-double in club's six-of-seven march up standings. ... Jazz have 36 assists, Blazers 34 hoops in 16-point drubbing.
	10	Spurs · Trends	14
	Room for improvement: Richard Jefferson has nine field goals last four games. ... Softies devoured, three heavyweights (Celtics, Nuggets, Jazz) await in five-day stretch.
	11	Trail Blazers · Trends	9
	Last quality win (at home vs. Spurs) now almost month away. ... Zach Randolph (remember him?) enjoys homecoming at Blazers' expense.
	12	Heat · Trends	13
	Too much stuffing? Heat among seven home losers (to Wizards) on day after Thanksgiving. ... Hope to avoid you in April: Club has lost nine of 10 to Celtics.
	13	Rockets · Trends	10
	Honeymoon's over: Early surprise team hasn't won back-to-back in a month. ... Where's Tracy McGrady? Club shoots 71 of 175 in home losses to Mavericks, Spurs.
	14	Thunder · Trends	15
	Giant-killing continues: Add Jazz to list that includes Magic, Spurs, Heat. ... He can pass, too: Kevin Durant has at least a handful of assists in five of last seven.
	15	Bobcats · Trends	19
	Trade paying dividends: Stephen Jackson averaging 40 minutes for club that's won four straight. ... Gerald Wallace takes Michael Jordan's advice, outplays LeBron James in win over Cavaliers.
	16	Bucks · Trends	12
	Four-game losing streak includes two-, three-point losses. ... What's problem? Brandon Jennings since 55-point explosion: 59 of 160 (369).
	17	Bulls · Trends	17
	Time to move up: After 10 of first 15 on road, nine of next 11 at home. ... No laughing matter: Club now 10-61 last 10 "Circus Trips."
	18	Kings · Trends	24
	Bring on New England: Club sweeps three against New York, New Jersey, New Orleans. ... Another surprise for surprising team: Sergio Rodriguez impresses at point guard.
	19	Hornets · Trends	18
	Last four road games: 0-4, 15.0 average margin of defeat. Next visit: Lakers. ... Good time for Chris Paul to rest: Club follows two-game week with two-game week.
	20	Raptors · Trends	16
	Blown-out club glad Canadian Steve Nash (20 points, 16 assists) comes north just once a year. ... Only Warriors (112.4 ppg) worse defensively than Raptors (109.3).
	21	Wizards · Trends	21
	Antawn Jamison doubles up on double-doubles in two wins, goes double-single in loss to Bobcats. ... Time to make move: Celtics, Suns only elite foes in December.
	22	Clippers · Trends	25
	Marcus Camby climbing rebound list: 62 in last four games. ... Is .500 in their future? The 8-10 club gets next five at home.
	23	Warriors · Trends	26
	Short-handed travelers make total of seven substitutions in shocker at Dallas. ... Scorching Monta Ellis goes for 34, 37, 42, 45 in five-game stretch.
	24	Pistons · Trends	22
	Bloody Charlie Villanueva helps in win over Hawks, then has surgery on broken nose. ... TV truck catches fire, Pistons don't in viewer-less home loss to Clippers.
	25	Pacers · Trends	20
	League leader in free throws allowed puts Monta Ellis on line 16 times in loss to Warriors. ... Mike Dunleavy hits first 11 foul shots after nearly 10-month absence.
	26	76ers · Trends	23
	A.I. II: Ay yi yi. ... Knew it wouldn't be easy: Seven-game losing streak includes Cavaliers, Celtics, Hawks, Spurs, Mavericks.
	27	Grizzlies · Trends	27
	Improvement noted: Club is 5-4 after 1-8 start. ... Jamaal Tinsley puts PT over W's, signs with Grizzlies.
	28	Knicks · Trends	28
	Double your pleasure: Sunday duel with lowly Nets one of two this month. ... Anthony adds to infamy: Four of last 10 to score 50 have faced Knicks.
	29	Timberwolves · Trends	29
	Don't want to make them mad: Club avenges home loss to Nuggets with stunner at Denver. ... Improving Ramon Sessions cutting into Jonny Flynn's playing time.
	30	Nets · Trends	30
	Frank-ly speaking, change needed after noncompetitive Western swing. ... Good news for new coach Kiki Vandeweghe: Bobcats, Knicks, Bulls, Warriors, Pacers in eight-day stretch