Trae Young To Wizards Upends NBA Power Rankings

Merlin sees trade season crack wide open with the Trae Young deal, and the market reacted. The move, plus a week of surprising results, nudged heavyweights like Oklahoma City and the Knicks into more vulnerable territory while Phoenix and Boston climbed. Sacramento slid to the bottom of the net rating, and Washington’s direction was “recalibrated” by acquiring Young. Merlin notes Washington paid CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert for a high-upside star, a bold bet that may not buy instant wins but changes the franchise’s map. OKC still feels like the standard bearer, yet even champions can look mortal when shots stop falling. Expect more deals and lineup experiments as teams chase rhythm, health, and playoff positioning.