This week's power rankings heavily focus on trade talk on the day that 79 players who inked contracts this summer can be traded.

The Thunder, who lost in the 2024 NBA Cup final, take on the San Antonio Spurs in Las Vegas on Saturday night. San Antonio has a better shot at OKC with Victor Wembanyama in the lineup. The French big man is expected to make his return from injury for the semifinal showdown.

The Boston Celtics are on an absolute tear behind an offense that has remained elite in the absence of Jayson Tatum. They've won 10 of their last 12 games, and this isn't a soft-schedule sort of run. Boston is taking out some of the league's best teams one after another.

The Spurs are 4-1 over the last five games and advancing in the NBA Cup after a win over the Lakers. Since losing Victor Wembanyama for 12 games, the Spurs have gone 9-3 compared to 7-4 with him. San Antonio boasts the seventh-best offensive rating over the last 12 games, but ranks 22nd in defensive rating without their franchise player.

“He’s smart, man,” said Orlando guard Jalen Suggs, one of the better point-of-attack defenders in the NBA. “He’s got good pace, and he’s really smart. He doesn’t really get too bored with the game. He doesn’t get too bored keeping it simple. He challenges you every possession.

It was an odd week for fantasy basketball with the NBA Cup quarterfinals and semifinals taking place in Week 8. As a result, many fantasy managers had fewer games to work with. That definitely impacted the week's High Score fantasy basketball perfect lineup.

Nebraska’s junior Pryce Sandfort is emerging as one of the most underrated 2025 NBA draft prospects. Averaging 17 points per game on elite shooting splits, Sandfort combines movement shooting, rim finishing,

Desmond Bane was the driving force in Orlando’s 117-108 victory over the Miami Heat in the quarterfinals, thanks to his 37-point outing. The wing was on fire, shooting 14-of-24 from the field and making six of nine attempts from downtown.