Power Rankings: Winners, losers from trade deadline

Updated Feb. 24

The NBA trade deadline is history without truly having made history. Separating the winners from the losers in the yawn-invoking aftermath is about as easy as beating the Kings these days.

Without question, the champion of deadline day was talk radio. Its deals were far more entertaining and potentially impactful than almost anything that actually crossed the transactions wire.

And the big losers? That's easy: Just about anyone trying to close the gap between themselves and the front-runners in the East and West, the Celtics and Lakers. Here are my Top 5 in both categories:

Two-time All-Star Brad Miller bolsters the Chicago frontcourt. (Getty Images)

The winners

1. Celtics. The rival Cavaliers seemingly were attached to a dozen difference-making rumors, but in the end, they did nothing. They remained second-best in the East by doing so.

2. Bulls. Already rising with a bullet, they stamped themselves as the team to avoid in the first round of the playoffs with the acquisition of tough-minded center Brad Miller. Another ex-King -- John Salmons -- could help, too.

3. Knicks. There's a reason two teams dealt for -- and several other teams were interested in -- Chris Wilcox at the deadline. The guy can play.

4. Lakers. It says here Adam Morrison will turn into another Luke Walton -- a limited player who understands just what it takes to be successful alongside Kobe Bryant.

5. Rockets. Kyle Lowry is no Rafer Alston. Rockets fans will come to understand that's a compliment.

The losers

1. Cavaliers. The window of opportunity in the LeBron James era is rapidly closing on the Cavs' fingers. If they don't win this year -- and they certainly didn't help their chances last week -- next season could be a wall-to-wall nightmare.

2. Trail Blazers. Sure, an up-and-coming team didn't want to mess with a good, young nucleus. But not cashing in Raef LaFrentz's gold mine of a contract was equivalent to throwing away a first-round pick. That's never a good thing

3. Spurs. Imagine Tim Duncan not having to worry about foul trouble. That would have been life with bookend partner Marcus Camby, who was rumored to be halfway to San Antonio when midnight struck on a potential deal with the Clippers. Now the Spurs will have to win with what they've got -- which might be enough, but isn't as much as it could have been.

4. Thunder. Don't look now but this club has three real nice pieces in Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook. The hardest part of building a contender, however, is acquiring a quality center, and the Thunder nearly had one in Tyson Chandler. He'd have been a great fit ... even with a bum toe.

5. Magic. Stan Van Gundy beware: Brother Jeff might still have a job in Houston had the club not imported the enigma that is Alston. Orlando should have opted for Jamaal Tinsley.

Bottom line: Most NBA teams look the same as before the trade deadline. Not coincidentally, most also look the same in this week's CBSSports.com Power Rankings: