It’s never too early to start looking at potential conference winners for the upcoming 2024-25 NBA season!
Boston Celtics: Can They Repeat?
With Boston being the landslide winner this past season, can they repeat not only as conference champions but also as NBA champions?
Dallas Mavericks: Contenders in the West?
Can Western Conference champion, Dallas, stay at the top and overtake Boston with the addition of Klay Thompson?
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Eastern Conference Odds Breakdown
Boston Celtics
It is indeed the Celtics at the top of the list priced at +145 to repeat as conference champions. This should be no surprise. Not even two weeks after the conclusion of the season, Boston locked up Jayson Tatum and Derrick White. This Celtics starting five will not be different next year, and the starting five will be worth close to $1 billion.
Philadelphia 76ers
Next up is the Philadelphia 76ers at +400. Darryl Morey and co. have been pretty busy since their first-round exit to the Knicks. They added veteran Paul George, Eric Gordon, Caleb Martin, and Andre Drummond. They drafted Jared McCain out of Duke, re-signed superstar Tyrese Maxey to a max deal, and brought back Kelly Oubre Jr. They are making a team not only for a deep playoff run but also to compete for the Larry O’Brien trophy.
New York Knicks
Rounding out the top three is the New York Knicks priced at +450. They re-signed OG Anunoby to a max deal and traded for Mikal Bridges. However, the loss of Isaiah Hartenstein could be significant. If New York can add a guy to replace Hartenstein, then I would get in at +450.
Other Eastern Conference Contenders
- Indiana Pacers: Listed at +2500 after landing in the Eastern Conference Final.
- Milwaukee Bucks: Priced at +600, they could rebound from injury issues last season.
- Cleveland Cavaliers: A fun team last season and could be a disruptor at +2000.
Western Conference Odds Breakdown
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder are priced at the best odds to repeat as regular season conference champions at +350. They signed former Knicks Center Isaiah Hartenstein and traded Josh Giddy for Alex Caruso, adding more veteran experience around superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The sky’s the limit for the Thunder in a seemingly weaker Western Conference.
Dallas Mavericks
Next up on the list are the Finals runner-ups in the Mavericks at +420. They added Klay Thompson, forming a new big three with Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic. The biggest question marks are their health and on-court chemistry. If they can stay healthy and flourish, getting them at +420 would be a great price.
Denver Nuggets
Finally, we have the Denver Nuggets at +420, the same as the Mavericks. They lost key players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and DeAndre Jordan. Although they still have Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, losing key pieces around your stars can hurt. Denver might not be built to win a conference title as things stand.
Other Western Conference Contenders & Favorites
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Priced at +500 , which is a relative longshot.
- New Orleans Pelicans: If they can stay healthy, they offer tremendous value at +2200.
- Sacramento Kings: A longshot at +2800, they added veteran DeMar DeRozan to bolster their roster.
The Picks and Predictions
Eastern Conference Pick
I’m going with the Philadelphia 76ers. I think they have great value and I love what Daryl Morey has done with his offseason moves. It’s tough to go against the obvious choice in the Celtics, but for the Sixers’ price, I think they can provide great value in the long run.
Western Conference Pick
I’m siding with last year’s West champions in the Dallas Mavericks. I really like the addition of Klay Thompson and believe that this new big three can be a real threat in a Western Conference that is a bit unpredictable. For them to be priced at +420, I think they can make your money worthwhile.
