Unlike the tumultuous day last year (which I covered here), this year’s NBA trade deadline was surprisingly quiet. There was still plenty of movement in role players, though, as the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies established themselves as big sellers, and many teams acquired young talent at discount prices. So, with all of these deals complete, and all of the players more or less settled in with their new teams, I’ve taken it upon myself to try to simplify the gigantic 16-team playoff field of the NBA come April 18.

Eastern Conference

8. Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are the big winners in the “Still Getting the Guy They Wanted After One Trade Fell Through Because of an Out-of-Shape Center” category, as they picked up young, athletic forward Tobias Harris from the Orlando Magic, while the Magic got Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova, two players with limited upside that are very easy on the checkbook. Orlando is plotting for the future, while the Pistons are looking for their window of opportunity in the next year or two.

7. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers were one of the many teams that didn’t make a move at the deadline, and that, at least in this writer’s opinion, was a grave miscalculation. The starting five are good enough, but the Pacers lack the depth of a true playoff contender, and the trade deadline is basically the Black Friday of role players. The Pacers missed their chance, and they’re going to regret it in the postseason.

6. Charlotte Hornets

The only noteworthy move for the Hornets was the acquisition of three-and-D shooting guard Courtney Lee from the Memphis Grizzlies, a team that appears to be clearing house (more on that later), but that one trade has put them in a very favorable position heading down the stretch. A young core with a veteran threat from deep is always scary, just ask every team that had to play the Miami Heat between 2012-14 with the great Ray Allen to stretch defenses.

5. Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are learning that hard way that you can only ride a star guard so far until his legs give out (see: Rose, Derrick under ACL, knee and ankle / Butler, Jimmy under knee and strain). The current injury to Butler has definitely set the team back, but they’re still on track for a solid second half, despite the utter nonexistence of their deadline moves.

4. Miami Heat

From “The Fighting Dwyane Wades” to the Big Three to (finally) an evenly-balanced team, this millennium has been quite the roller coaster for the Heat. They’ve finally found stability, and their continuing to build, acquiring a 2018 second-round pick as well as an undetermined second-rounder through shrewd moves while eliminating money against the salary cap. The Heat are definitely going in the right direction, and it’s all thanks to the businessmanship of Pat Riley.

3. Boston Celtics

Like the Pacers, the Celtics made zero moves at the deadline, leaving their season up to the play of the outstanding corps of young talent that they’ve managed to obtain in the past few years, including one of the most athletic backcourts in the NBA of Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley, two players that are maturing nicely in a great system in the Northeast.

2. Toronto Raptors

The Raptors also abstained from a disappointing trade deadline, but that seems to have worked for them in the recent past. The adeptly-named, fast-paced and vicious Raptors thrive with athletic guards who can shoot the ball and post players, specifically Luis Scola and Jonas Valanciunas, who can extend their range outside of the paint. It’s both exciting and refreshing to see a return of the big man’s mid range shot.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

Finally, we have the Cavaliers, who, somewhat surprisingly, dealt lifelong Cav Anderson Varejao and a 2020 second-round pick to get Channing Frye and a future second-rounder in a three-team deal that included that included the Trail Blazers and Magic. This was a great deal for Cleveland, as they got a veteran sharpshooter who can play multiple positions and secure the Cavaliers as the deepest team in the Eastern Conference.

Western Conference

8. Dallas Mavericks

Dallas never seems to go away. They are one of the safest bets you can make for a lower-half playoff spot, and they didn’t hurt or help themselves with the lack of movement at the trade deadline. With the talent in the rest of the conference, though, look to lock in the Mavericks as the eighth seed pretty early on.

7. Memphis Grizzlies

Where do I even begin with the Grizzlies? One could easily argue that their season was done the minute Marc Gasol went down with a broken foot, but trading away two of the four remaining starters? That’s about as close as a team can get to completely throwing in the towel. This is not to mention that Jeff Green and Courtney Lee were swapped for Chris Andersen and Lance Stephenson, leading to a much more physical presence in the Grind House for the Grizzlies. They did pick up four future second-round picks and a first-rounder that will undoubtedly be used to rebuild the team around Gasol at center.

6. Houston Rockets

The Rockets are one of the few teams that remains active at the deadline year after year, but this was a bit of a down year. Their trade with the Pistons was voided because Donatas Motiejunas failed his physical, leaving the Rockets without young, promising Joel Anthony and a projected 2016 first-round draft pick. The team should be able to find a way to right the ship, though, as there is decreasing competition outside of the top-tier teams in the Western Conference.

5. Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers played a role in the three-team trade that led to the Cavaliers’ acquisition of Channing Frye, getting their hands on Anderson Varejao and a future first-round draft pick, both coming from Cleveland, only to waive Varejao and allow him to become a free agent and sign with the Golden State Warriors. This makes sense given their depth in the post, but it may have been a good idea to get another threat in the backcourt behind C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard. The Blazers are still a fearsome team, though, and they are looking for their first taste of postseason success in a long, long time.

4. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers sent notorious troubled soul Lance Stephenson to the Grizzlies in exchange for Jeff Green, a much more amiable forward who can play both ends of the floor and be productive in nearly every aspect. Los Angeles did lose a future first-round draft pick in the trade, but it looks like they are all in for this year. Unfortunately for them, there is just too much talent above them in the standings.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

Gone are the days of Kevin Durant mercilessly slaughtering defenses and picking up 50 wins from his own grit. Now, the OKC Big Three consist of Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka, with all three dominating their aspect of the game. Behind them, though, is not a lot. The Thunder picked up Randy Foye at the deadline to help with their depth issues, but they are still relying far too heavily on their starting five to crack the top two spots.

2. San Antonio Spurs

A welcome antithesis to the Thunder, the San Antonio Spurs have built one of the deepest teams in the NBA, leading all 30 teams in overall bench efficiency and behind only the New Orleans Pelicans in bench scoring. There is more than just the starting five in the NBA, and Gregg Popovich has unlocked the secret of role players’ performance, a key that will lead them to yet another deep postseason run.

1. Golden State Warriors

Once again topping the Western Conference are the Golden State Warriors. As of the publication of this column, the Warriors with their 52-5 record (91.2 winning percentage) are on track for a 75-win season, usurping the 72-win Bulls from ‘96 of the single-season win record. That’s all that really needs to be said, but even the Warriors picked up Anderson Varejao off waivers from the Trail Blazers at the deadline to make the team that much scarier.