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NBA Power Rankings: Impact of the 2015 Trade Deadline

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 22, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) looks on before the game against the Washington Wizards at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) looks on before the game against the Washington Wizards at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 23, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) prior to the game against the Boston Celtics at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) prior to the game against the Boston Celtics at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

16. Phoenix Suns

Previous: No. 15

Record: 29-28 

Last Week: 0-3

Key Acquisitions: Brandon Knight, PG; Marcus Thornton, SG; Brandan Wright, C

This past summer, the Phoenix Suns committed to an unorthodox vision by signing point guard Isaiah Thomas to join Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic. Phoenix used the NBA Trade Deadline to break that vision up.

Both Dragic and Thomas were dealt for the likes of Brandon Knight and Marcus Thornton.

Knight has been phenomenal in 2014-15, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to an improbably successful season. He’ll step in with Bledsoe as the guard who not only facilitates, but takes over as a scorer.

In many ways, Knight deserved to be an All-Star for his efforts in Milwaukee.

Something similar could be said for Bledsoe, albeit to a lesser extent.

A pair of quietly critical acquisitions are shooting guard Marcus Thornton and center Brandan Wright. Wright is an extremely efficient offensive player with above-average shot-blocking skills, while Thornton is shooting above 40 percent from 3-point range.

Unfortunately, Phoenix has lost five consecutive games and eight of nine in the midst of the postseason hunt.

Next: One Star's Injury Leads to Another's Resurgence