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The trades that took place recently are bearing some fruit for some teams and not so much for others. Cleveland’s obviously reaping benefits as is Dallas. Cleveland regains their spot at the throne, the Lakers drop a notch, while the Bucks made a substantial leap.

Here’s this week’s edition of Slam Dunk Central’s Power Rankings:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (2). I guess it was a matter of time as the Cavs snapped that 3-game losing streak. The good news is that they swept the week. Bad news? Shaq’s gone for the year, it appears. Zydrunas Ilgauskas returning to the Cavs may dictate how far they go in the playoffs. A center is needed badly.
2. Los Angeles Lakers (1). Kobe returned in time to hit a game-winner, and their defense has carried them thus far. A cake week for the Lakers – until Sunday – as they face Indiana, Miami and Charlotte. But this weekend finds them facing the Magic. 
3. Dallas Mavericks (7). Brendan Haywood validates my argument that you have to have a serviceable center (at the very least) to get far in this league. But Jason Kidd has been the savior for the Mavs this past week and his leadership will be needed even more as they play Minnesota, Sacramento and Chicago. 
4. Orlando Magic (4). They’re going to need to stop having those lackluster 4th quarters (loss to New Orleans last Friday) if they want to stay ahead of Boston and Atlanta. Fortunately for them, they get Golden State and New Jersey this week.
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (5). Their week wasn’t that bad actually, despite a “Play of the Year” by the Spurs’ Manu Ginobili, and they blew a lead to the Suns last Tuesday. They should be tested on Wednesday when they travel to Denver.
6. Utah Jazz (3). As Ricky Ricardo used to say, “What happened?” What happened was the Jazz allowed the Kings to shoot 55% and win. And you just know coach Sloan was steamed. It doesn’t get any easier as they play Phoenix Thursday night.
7. Phoenix Suns (11). Winners of 3-of-4 this past week, they did have their issues as mental mistakes permeated their lone loss (to San Antonio). But Nash and Co. should be able to right that ship face the Clippers and Pacers.
8. Atlanta Hawks (9). Things went weird over at Team Hawks as they got punked by Jason Kidd and the Mavericks and survived the Bucks in OT. The offense last week was there (103 PPG) yet the defense might be regressing (101 PPG). Plenty of chances to score and win this week as they play Philadelphia, Golden State and Miami.
9. Denver Nuggets (6). Their week was rather underwhelming as they beat teams they were supposed to beat (Glden State and Detroit) yet managed only 89 against the Lakers. the Thunder and Pacers await these Nuggets.
10. Boston Celtics (8). The Celtics were out-hustled and defeated by the Nets. Lack of effort the culprit? Hard to say, but they have 3 very winnable games this week (Detroit, Charlotte and Philadelphia).
11. Portland Trail Blazers (12). Their offense has improved, even in their loss to the Bulls last Friday. Brandon Roy has been the key for them as of late and will need to stay healthy.
12. San Antonio Spurs (13). They finally had a winning February (6-5) and even Richard Jefferson dropped 20 vs. the Suns – the most he’s scored this season. They’ll need more of the same from him – it’s just that simple.
13. Milwaukee Bucks (20). I’m not sure how they’re being resurgent, yet they kept themselves relevant in the Eastern Conference playoff chase (winners of 4 of their past 5). All this despite not shooting very well. Which means their defense has kept them in some games (71 vs. NY and 71 vs. Miami). They get to play Washington (back-to-back) and Cleveland. What a reality check this week.
14. Toronto Raptors (10). They went 0-for-the-week, yet to be fair, they didn’t have Chris Bosh. Hopefully, they can get him back in time when they host the Knicks on Friday.
15. Memphis Grizzlies (16). Although they went 2-2, their week was good (Kobe’s game-winner and the Bobcats dropping 3′s on them late). The Grizzlies play six of their next 9 at FedEx Forum – where their luck hasn’t been good as of late (6 straight losses).
16. Chicago Bulls (17). They dropped roadies to the Pacers and Wizards and now face nine teams with winning records. Word is that they may be without Joakim Noah for some of these games; let’s hope not.
17. New Orleans Hornets (14). You can’t blame Darren Collison for the Hornets drop (21.3 PPG and 9 RPG in the last 14 games), yet the offense just wasn’t here for some reason. IT will have to come back as they play Memphis and San Antonio this week.
18. Houston Rockets (18). They’ve been healthy for a change and Kevin Martin is finding his scoring groove. The Rockets will need it as they get a favorable schedule this week: Sacramento, Minnesota and Detroit.
19. Charlotte Bobcats (19). If they could simply score some points, they’d be much higher in the rankings. This week’s very tough for the Bobcats as they face Boston, the Lakers and Golden State. Defense alone isn’t gonna cut it.
20. Miami Heat (15). D-Wade’s back, yet that didn’t save the Heat as they shot barely 40 percent for the week (41 actually). Maybe some home cooking is in order as they play nine of their next 10 at home. Unfortunately for them, two of the games are against the Lakers and Hawks this week.
21. Washington Wizards (23). Interestingly, this team has actually improved since dealing Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood, although their 2-2 record last week doesn’t indicate it. They get Milwaukee (back-to-back), followed by Boston. A 2-1 week is within reach for the Wiz.
22. Los Angeles Clippers (22). An indication that the Clippers are regressing badly? They’re equal-opportunity losers (losses to the Kings and Suns). They host the Suns and Thunder then go to play the Jazz. An ugly week ahead for the Clips.
23. Philadelphia 76ers (21). Maybe I’m superstitious, but the 76ers haven’t done well with or without Allen Iverson in their lineup. Not to mention that their offense has been flat. I expect three losses for the Sixers as they play Atlanta, Bsoton and Toronto. Get thee to the NBA lottery.
24. Golden State Warriors (27). They can’t rebound. They can’t play defense. But they can sure score. Interestingly, they do better when Monta Ellis is out of the lineup. But none of that will probably matter as they have a 4-game road trip this week, losing to taking on Miami, Orlando, Atlanta and Charlotte.
25. Indiana Pacers (24). Rebounding has been the Pacers’ Achilles heel, which will not serve them well as they have to play this week the Lakers, Blazers, Nuggets and Suns. It would probably be easier for the Pacers to just mail’em in at this point.
26. Sacramento Kings (28). They took 2-of-3, including a shocker vs. the Jazz this past week. But a reality check awaits them as they play the Thunder, Rockets and Mavericks.
27. Detroit Pistons (25). Losers of 3-of-4, the Pistons were held to 88 points by Golden State last Saturday. That’s a sign of a team that seems to be playing out the string. Look for more of the same when they lose to play the Celtics, Knicks and Cavaliers. Ok, they might beat the Knicks, but I think you get the idea here.
28. New York Knicks (26). Even with T-Mac, the loveable losers aka the Knicks can’t catch a break as they won 2 games in the month of February. Yet they have a chance to win a pair this week as they play Detroit and New Jersey. Fun fact: Two of the worst teams in the NBA are within 30 minutes of each other. I shouldn’t have to tell you who they are.
29. Minnesota Timberwolves (29). They played – and lost ugly – this week, although they won an ugly game vs. the Heat. They can’t get any worse as the Nets have renewed their lease on the basement.
30. New Jersey Nets (30). Other than doing what they do best, they embarassed the Celtics – at Boston. Yet they haven’t this season put together a winning streak of any length. But at least they’re consistent. And not in a good way, either.