The Nets’ NBA title odds have been on a bonkers ride this offseason, thanks to Kevin Durant

Brooklyn’s odds were as long as 50-1.

To be a good bettor of sports futures is to be abreast of all the recent news but not overreact until it’s the right time to throw down a couple bucks. For Brooklyn Nets bettors, that was made a little more difficult during a rollercoaster offseason that finally seems to be nearing a stop with news Tuesday that Kevin Durant has agreed to “move forward” with the team rather than part ways.

At the height of Durant’s trade request, Brooklyn’s odds to win the 2022-23 title had moved to as long as we’ve seen them in the KD era. Those odds have since shortened precipitously — and with good reason. That means people who otherwise would have bet on the Nets but instead avoided them missed out an opportunity.

Here’s a quick glimpse of how the odds moved at Tipico Sportsbook since the start of the offseason:

The Nets’ odds saw similar drops at other sportsbooks. They went from 18-1 to 11-1 at Caesars and currently sit at +750 after once peaking at +5000.

The shorter odds aren’t stopping the bets from rolling in, though. Rather the return of Durant is giving Nets bettors more optimism. Brooklyn joined a list of only six other teams to receive at least six bets of $1,000 or more at Caesars.

With still so much time to go until the start of the new season, only more movement can be expected.

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Betting world reacts to shocking news that Kevin Durant is staying with the Nets

Brooklyn moved from +1200 to +900 to win the 2023 title.

There was always going to be massive movement in NBA betting odds once the Kevin Durant saga in Brooklyn played out. The only question was which team was going to get a massive bump after landing the former league MVP.

As it turns out, it’s the team that already employs Durant, as he rescinded his trade request and agreed to remain with the Nets. Brooklyn’s odds to win next year’s title jumped from 12-1 to 9-1 at Tipico Sportsbook after the news. And that’s for good reason — they have a pretty good roster.

If you bet on Brooklyn’s futures at the peak of Durant’s request, you probably got pretty good odds. The value isn’t nearly the same now. The betting world reacted accordingly on Twitter.

Celtics reportedly traded for Malcolm Brogdon, and now they’re NBA title betting favorites

Boston filled a need.

The Boston Celtics were only two games away from being crowned NBA champions last month, so one can only assume they were a piece or two away from finishing the job.

They took a step towards filling the holes Friday by trading for Indiana Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported. In return, Boston reportedly sent the Pacers a 2023 first-round pick, Daniel Theis, Aaron Nesmith, Nik Stauskas, Malik Fitts and Juwan Morgan.

In Brogdon, the Celtics get a playmaking point guard who can take on primary ball-handling duties, which was a glaring hole for Boston as it averaged 16 turnovers in the Finals. Taking the step forward without losing any key rotational players moved Boston’s title odds into a tie for shortest with the Phoenix Suns at +550 on Tipico Sportsbook. They’re also the favorites at DraftKings at +500.

The move also makes official the Pacers intentions to enter a complete rebuild. They’re tied with five other teams on Tipico for the longest title odds at +50000.

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Golden State Warriors land fourth-best odds to win 2021 NBA title

Despite their struggles in 2019-20, the Warriors have the fourth-best odds to win the 2021 NBA title, according to William Hill Sportsbook.

On Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up their 17th championship with a win over the Miami Heat in game six of the NBA Finals. Despite the longest season in league history finally coming to a close, it’s time to turn the page to 2021.

Before the draft and the free agency period are underway, title odds for the new league year are already available.

According to William Hill Sportsbook, LeBron James and the defending champion Lakers hold the top spot at +375. Behind their Los Angeles neighbor, the Clippers are second at +400. 

After the pair of teams from Southern California, reigning Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks are the first team from the Eastern Conference listed with +650 odds. 

While the top-three teams made runs in the 2020 postseason, the next team on the sheet didn’t get an invite to the NBA’s Orlando Bubble. Despite their league-worst 15-50 mark in 2019-20, the Golden State Warriors have a +800 odds to win the 2021 title.

Via William Hill Sportsbook:

  • Los Angeles Lakers — +375
  • Los Angeles Clippers — +400
  • Milwaukee Bucks — +650
  • Golden State Warriors — +800
  • Brooklyn Nets — +850
  • Boston Celtics — +1200
  • Miami Heat — +1500
  • Toronto Raptors — +2000
  • Houston Rockets — +2000
  • Denver Nuggets — +2000

With Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson expected to be back in the mix in 2021, Golden State should have the opportunity to crack open their title window for another ride.

Along with their championship core of Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green, Golden State will need a player like Andrew Wiggins, Eric Paschall and Marquese Chriss to step up if they want to compete with the likes of James, Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard in the Western Conference.

While Golden State’s group shows promise with the Splash Brothers healthy, several question marks surround the team. 

What will Bob Myers and Steve Kerr do when they’re on the clock with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft? How do they use the Andre Iguodala $17.2 million trade exception? Can they recruit a valuable veteran to come to Golden State on the mid-level exception?

How Kerr and Myers answer those questions this offseason will have a significant impact on their chances of making a run back to the top of the Western Conference.

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Bank on these NBA Championship best bets

Looking at the betting odds to win the 2019-20 NBA Championship with picks and best bets.

The NBA restart is almost here and that means it’s time to look ahead to the NBA Finals. Below, we make our best bets to win the 2019-20 NBA Championship and the Larry O’Brien Trophy with all odds courtesy of BetMGM.

2019-20 NBA Eastern Championship picks: Favorite

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, July 20 at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Milwaukee Bucks (+280)

The safest bet to win the NBA Championship is the Bucks, who have the second-best odds behind only the Los Angeles Lakers (+250). Before the NBA season was suspended, the Bucks had the league’s best record at 53-12 and will have their whole roster available to them in Orlando.

Not only do the Bucks have the No. 1 offense in basketball, but they also have a top-five defense as they possess an unbelievable amount of length and athleticism. Led by superstar PF Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have arguably the best player in the NBA, surrounded by a supporting cast that fits his strength.

Another reason why the Bucks are such a safe bet is due to the Eastern Conference. As a whole, the conference is weaker than usual and even more so at the bottom of the playoff bracket. The Bucks will likely be able to sleepwalk through Round 1 and there just aren’t many teams that can challenge them in the Eastern Conference.

The Bucks have already proven they can have success against quality teams like the Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, making it even more likely they can compete in an eventual Finals matchup.


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2019-20 NBA Eastern Championship picks: Contender

Houston Rockets (+1200)

One of the best value bets on the board is the Houston Rockets, who are 12-1 underdogs to take home the Larry O’Brien trophy. While Houston was up-and-down during the regular season, they have the ability to get red-hot and rip off a bunch of wins due to their shooting.

It also doesn’t hurt that they are experienced and have one of the top-five players in the NBA in G James Harden. With Harden nearly guaranteed to score 30 points a night, all the Rockets need are a few other role players to step up in big games. With proven players like PG Russell Westbrook, SG Eric Gordon and SF P.J. Tucker on the roster, they certainly won’t be afraid of any team in the Western Conference.

This is a great mid-range bet for bettors looking to bet on someone outside of the Lakers, Bucks or Clippers.

2019-20 NBA Eastern Championship picks: Long shot

Philadelphia 76ers (+2500)

If you are searching a long-shot bet, consider wagering on the 76ers to win the NBA Championship. In the 2019 playoffs, they took the eventual NBA champion Toronto Raptors to seven games and came within a few bounces of taking them down. While they are currently just the sixth-seed in the Eastern Conference, they have enough talent on their roster to compete with anyone.

If the 76ers can get favorable matchups in the playoffs, they could certainly make a run in Orlando. Don’t be surprised if this 76ers team at least reaches the Eastern Conference Finals.

Get some action on NBA futures bets by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Los Angeles Lakers NBA Championship odds, picks and best bets

Assessing the betting odds of the Los Angeles Lakers winning the Western Conference and the 2019-20 NBA Championship, with picks and best bets.

The Los Angeles Lakers were first in the Western Conference with a record of 49-14 when the 2019-20 NBA season was suspended. Below, we look at the BetMGM betting odds of the Lakers winning the NBA Championship once play resumes with a 22-team format in Orlando, Fla. later this summer.

Los Angeles Lakers season recap

With the addition of PF Anthony Davis, the Lakers had become the best team in the Western Conference before play was suspended. The Lakers held a 5.5 game lead over the No. 2 ranked Los Angeles Clippers and it seemed inevitable they would wind up with the top seed in the conference.

The Lakers were on a bit of a run before the season stoped, winning 12 of their previous 14 games. That included wins over the Clippers and the Milwaukee Bucks, who held the best record in the NBA.

What makes this Lakers team so unique is their overwhelming size and efficiency. Before the season was suspended, they were No. 1 in field-goal percentage and blocks. They were also an above-average rebounding team and defended the rim well with one of Davis, JaVale McGee or Dwight Howard always on the floor.

What makes this team so dangerous is how well James was playing over the last few weeks. In his last 10 games of the 2019-2020 season, James was averaging 30.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 9.9 assists per game. LeBron was making a real run at the MVP award and Davis wasn’t far behind. You can make a strong case that before the season ended, James and Davis were two of the best five players from the 2019-2020 season.


Looking to place a bet on the NBA Championship? Get some action on it at BetMGM. Bet Now!


Los Angeles Lakers NBA Championship odds

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday, June 12, at 3:30 p.m. ET.

The Lakers (+250) are currently the favorites to win the NBA Championship in Orlando and it’s not hard to see why. With two of the best players in the NBA in James and Davis, it’s tough to see anyone beating them in a seven-game series.

It also doesn’t hurt that the Lakers have had recent success against the likes of the Clippers and Bucks, beating them both in the last week of the NBA season. That should give you confidence in them taking home the 2019-2020 title, especially at +250 odds.

Los Angeles Lakers Western Conference odds

If you aren’t quite convinced the Lakers can beat the Bucks or whoever comes out of the Eastern Conference, consider betting on them to win the Western Conference (+125). The Lakers will have to work their way through a tough conference, likely playing teams such as the Clippers, Houston Rockets and/or Denver Nuggets to reach the NBA Finals.

However, the Lakers’ success in the regular season combined with the playoff experience of players like James, Danny Green and Rajon Rondo make LA a good bet to come out of the West, even with the somewhat chalky odds.

Get some action on the NBA Championship by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Marcus_Mosher on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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