With the NBA season in the books and the free agent frenzy in full swing, could now be the time to lock in who you think will be crowned NBA champions this upcoming season? Major moves by teams such as the Knicks, 76ers, and Mavericks have shaken up the odds. Let’s break down the key acquisitions and see what Las Vegas thinks.
Key Points to Watch
- Celtics Favored to Repeat: Best odds at +300.
- 76ers’ Health Concerns: Odds at +850; health of Embiid and George crucial.
- Knicks’ New Additions: Priced at +900; added Mikal Bridges, lost Isaiah Hartenstein.
- Western Contenders: Mavericks at +1000, Thunder at +750, Nuggets at +850.
- Importance of Health: Key factor for all teams’ success.
Free Agent Moves and Championship Odds: Team Comparisons and Eastern Conference Dynamics
Knicks vs. Celtics
With the Knicks adding Mikal Bridges but losing Isaiah Hartenstein, do they compete with the Boston Celtics?
76ers’ Prospects
Do the Philadelphia 76ers find themselves in the top 3 in the East by adding Paul George and Andre Drummond?
Mavericks’ Chances
Can the Mavericks get back to the finals and get over the hump by adding 4-time NBA champion Klay Thompson? Let’s see what Las Vegas thinks.
Championship Odds Breakdown
As you may have guessed, the Celtics to repeat as champions have the best odds at +300. When looking at the eastern conference teams only, the Sixers would be next on the list at +850 followed by the Knicks at +900 (Odds are from FanDuel).
Boston Celtics
Boston’s starting five’s payroll is nearly $1 billion and there is no question they will be competing to go back-to-back this upcoming season. Can they do that though with how stacked the Eastern Conference has become over the past week? The answer is without a doubt yes. The last repeat champions? The ’17-’18 Warriors. Could Boston be the first to repeat since then? Once again a unanimous yes.
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have made a couple of splashes so far in free agency, signing Paul George to a max deal and seasoned veteran Andre Drummond to back up Joel Embiid.
Health Concerns
The issue for the 76ers however is health. Joel Embiid has only played more than 65 games twice in his career, and his career has been riddled with injuries.
There is no question Paul George is a great talent, but health is not his strong suit either. During his time with the Clippers (2019-2024), George only played more than 55 games once, and it was this past season.
The name of the game come playoff time is health. We saw Boston get to the finals not only by being the best team but also by staying healthy and beating teams that were riddled with injuries. If the Sixers can stay healthy for a full season as well as the playoffs, there is no question that +850 is a great value play.
New York Knicks
For the Knicks, they are priced at +900 with the addition of Mikal Bridges and the re-signing of OG Anunoby. They did however lose a big piece at the center position in Isaiah Hartenstein as he signed with the Thunder. The Knicks are more than capable of hanging around with the best of the best; if they can add a solid backup center during free agency, and if you believe in the Villanova magic the Knicks have assembled, then taking the Knicks at +900 to win their first title since 1975 is a great play.
Western Conference Contenders
Of course, the teams in the West cannot be slept on. The Mavericks to win it all are +1000, the Thunder have the second-best odds in the league at +750, and the Nuggets are nestled in between the 76ers and the Knicks at +850 with NJ bookies, such as betMGM. For me, we can sit here and talk about the Western Conference all day, but the fact of the matter is that time has changed. The best conference in the NBA is now the East, and with that I believe when healthy, the Sixers are the best team with the best value to bet on.
If you want to take the counter, I believe the Thunder could be that team with +750 at bet365 NJ in the West that could hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy if the teams in the East beat themselves up.
Prediction
No matter the team, if you stay healthy, you give yourself a huge advantage. I believe the Thunder are still a very young, inexperienced team. The Sixers, if they can stay healthy, have the talent and the playoff experience. If they make it to the finals they will be the more battle-tested team, thus for me, the best bet on a way too early NBA Finals winner bet.
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