James Harden trade instantly boosts Philadelphia’s 2022 title odds as the Nets’ odds get longer

A look at updated NBA title odds after the Philadelphia 76ers swapped Ben Simmons for the Brooklyn Nets’ James Harden

Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said he wouldn’t move disgruntled guard Ben Simmons for anything less than top dollar.

Well, the former Rockets general manager certainly got that on Thursday just hours before the NBA trade deadline—and he reunited with his last superstar in the process.

The Sixers shipped Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks to Brooklyn for James Harden and Paul Millsap early Thursday afternoon, a bombshell deal that will reverberate across the league.

In fact, it already has.

At Tipico Sportsbook, NBA title futures have already seen massive line movement. Here’s a look at how oddsmakers are processing the blockbuster trade:

Feb. 9 NBA Championship Outrights 

Philadelphia 76ers: +1200

Brooklyn Nets: +425

Feb. 10 NBA Championship Outrights 

Philadelphia 76ers: +700

Brooklyn Nets: +450

The deal will also impact the MVP candidacy of Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, who is the current favorite at +200. Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant lags behind at +3000, but the trade could free up Durant on offense and defense to improve his chances.

Feb. 10 NBA MVP odds:

Embiid: no change +200

Durant: no change +3000

Harden: moved from +10000 to +6000

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