Steve Starr
- Boston (+350) and Phoenix (+450) are the NBA title favorites following the 2023 NBA Trade Deadline
- Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were the biggest names to switch teams last week
- The Bucks (+575) and Nuggets (+800), Clippers (+1200) and Mavericks (+1400) are viewed as contenders
Kevin Durant is on the Suns. Kyrie Irving is in Dallas. And LeBron James has some new toys to play with in Los Angeles. Following the 2023 NBA trade deadline, let’s look at the updated championship odds for all the league’s contenders and pretenders.
You should also check out our guide to betting on the 2023 NBA Finals and our tips for betting on the NBA.
2023 NBA Championship
 |
|
| Boston Celtics | +350 |
| Phoenix Suns | +450 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +575 |
| Denver Nuggets | +800 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +1200 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1200 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +1400 |
| Golden State Warriors | +1400 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +1800 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +2200 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +2500 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +3300 |
| Miami Heat | +5000 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +8000 |
| Brooklyn Nets | +8000 |
| Sacramento Kings | +8000 |
| Toronto Raptors | +12500 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +20000 |
| New York Knicks | +20000 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | +20000 |
Celtics title favorites over Suns
Boston (+350) is still favored to win the championship despite standing pat at last Thursday’s trade deadline. Led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics’ path to a second-consecutive NBA Finals got easier with the Eastern Conference exodus of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Meanwhile, the arrival of KD in Phoenix (+450) made Monty Williams’ club the chalk pick out West.
The 13-time All-Star averaged 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 39 games with Brooklyn this season. With Devin Booker back from his groin injury, the Suns should rise up the standings in short order. Health is the only real question when evaluating the team’s title hopes. The 34-year-old Durant is coming off a sprained MCL and hasn’t played more than 55 games since 2018-19. Chris Paul is also starting to break down at age 37.
KEVIN DURANT IS A PHOENIX SUN. pic.twitter.com/VpMelG9Hoc
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 9, 2023
Bucks and Nuggets stay quiet
Despite holding down the No. 1 seed in the West, Denver (+800) was quiet at the deadline. The Nuggets shipped out point guard Bones Hyland and brought in center Thomas Bryant to back up Nikola Jokic. The reigning two-time MVP has already notched 19 triple-doubles this year, averaging 24.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 10.1 assists.
Milwaukee (+575) dealt five second-round picks to the Nets for gritty veteran forward Jae Crowder. The move wasn’t enough to make them Eastern Conference favorites. But, Giannis Antetokounmpo has the ungodly talent to lead the Bucks to their second title in three years by himself.
LA teams in the mix?
LeBron James had one helluva week. First, he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. And then his Lakers (+2500) shipped out a disgruntled Russell Westbrook and brought in D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt. While these quality pieces could help King James sneak in the postseason, his 13th-place club is still far from a title contender.
The Clippers (+1200) made only a few minor adjustments. Given the franchise’s long history of playoff failure, it’s hard to see Kawhi Leonard and Paul George coming out on top.
38,388 POINTS
LeBron James hits the fadeaway jumper to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer! #ScoringKing pic.twitter.com/P5LyTZAZn3
— NBA (@NBA) February 8, 2023
Mavs a good longshot?
Kyrie Irving scored 24 points in a win over the Clippers in his debut for the Mavericks (+1400). Will the eight-time All-Star be the perfect second banana for Luka Doncic, who is leading the NBA in scoring with 33.4 points per game? Or will he tear Dallas apart from the inside-out with his signature brand of crazy bullshit?
Best Bet
If injuries were not a consideration, Phoenix would probably be closer to 2-to-1 favorites to win the NBA title. We’ll take the gamble and bet on KD and the Suns at +450.
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