Here’s Where 2024 NBA Title Odds Stand After the Draft
The dust has seemingly settled on a wild week around the Association that saw several contenders shake up their rosters. A future Hall of Famer, Defensive Player of the Year, scoring title winner and even a unicorn switched teams in the lead-up to Thursday’s NBA draft, which began with the Spurs’ widely anticipated selection of generational talent Victor Wembanyama.
As good as some of the prospects at the top of the draft may be, rookies rarely impact winning all that much in their first year in the league. So San Antonio might have to wait a few years before Wembanyama takes them to the playoffs. It may also take some time for No. 2 pick Brandon Miller to make a major impact in Charlotte and the same goes for Portland’s No. 3 pick, Scoot Henderson.
But Chris Paul, Marcus Smart, Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis? Well, that’s a different story.
The Suns pushed more chips to the middle of the table Sunday when they sent Paul, Landry Shamet and multiple second-round picks and pick swaps to the Wizards in exchange for Beal, Jordan Goodwin and Isaiah Todd. It’s Phoenix’s second major move in the last six months after the trade-deadline deal that brought Kevin Durant to the desert to pair with Devin Booker.
Durant, Booker and Beal make for a fearsome offensive trio and Deandre Ayton remains on the roster but the Suns’ depth has been decimated. They now have the fourth-best odds to win the title at +600. At +450, the Nuggets, fresh off their first title, are the only Western Conference team ahead of Phoenix.
Paul wasn’t long for the nation’s capital as Washington sent him to the Warriors on Thursday and received Jordan Poole, a protected first-round pick and a second-round pick in return. After many years battling Stephen Curry and Golden State, Paul will play in the Bay for his age-38 season with an elusive ring top of mind. The 2022 champions are tied with the 76ers for the fifth-best title odds at +900.
Earlier in the week, the Wizards were involved in a three-team trade with the Celtics and Grizzlies that unfolded as follows: Washington netted Tyus Jones, Danilo Gallinari, Mike Muscala and a second-round pick (which was traded on draft night), Boston received Porzingis and two first-round picks (one of which was traded) and Smart landed in Memphis.
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The C’s are the co-favorites with the Bucks and Denver at +450 with Porzingis, coming off the best year of his career, joining Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in Beantown. The Grizzlies are tied for the 11th-best odds with the Mavericks at +1400. The addition of Smart comes a week after Ja Morant was hit with a 25-game suspension and a month after the front office made it clear Dillon Brooks would not be returning to the team.
The Wizards, with new leadership in place, have officially begun their rebuild by acquiring picks and young talent in exchange for aging stars. Accordingly, Washington is tied for the longest title odds in the league at +12500.
Barring any other major trades, the current NBA title odds should hold for at least a week before free agency gets underway June 30. James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Draymond Green, Fred VanVleet and Khris Middleton are some of the top players who could potentially switch teams this summer. And in this league, never count out a disgruntled star demanding a trade.
2023-24 NBA Championship Odds
Denver Nuggets +450
Milwaukee Bucks +450
Boston Celtics +450
Phoenix Suns +600
Golden State Warriors +900
Philadelphia 76ers +900
Los Angeles Lakers +1000
Miami Heat +1100
Cleveland Cavaliers +1300
Los Angeles Clippers +1300
Dallas Mavericks +1400
Memphis Grizzlies +1400
Sacramento Kings +3300
New Orleans Pelicans +3300
New York Knicks +4000
Minnesota Timberwolves +6600
Toronto Raptors +6600
Atlanta Hawks +6600
Chicago Bulls +10000
Brooklyn Nets +10000
Oklahoma City Thunder +10000
Utah Jazz +10000
San Antonio Spurs +10000
Portland Trail Blazers +10000
Houston Rockets +12500
Detroit Pistons +12500
Washington Wizards +12500
Orlando Magic +12500
Indiana Pacers +12500
Charlotte Hornets +12500
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