This past Wednesday marked a significant shift in the NBA landscape as the Milwaukee Bucks emerged as the odds-on favorite to win the 2024 NBA title, surpassing the Denver Nuggets.
This change came following a three-team trade involving the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns.
With the NBA season right around the corner, let's take a look at the odds to win the 2024 NBA Championship becauseĀ the top online sportsbooks in the USAĀ have already releasedĀ odds to win the 2024 NBA Finals.
| To Win 2024 NBA Championship |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks | +400 | +450 | +380 |
| Boston Celtics | +425 | +450 | +650 |
| Denver Nuggets | +550 | +500 | +500 |
| Phoenix Suns | +550 | +550 | +650 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +1000 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Golden State Warriors | +1400 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +2200 | +2500 | +4000 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +2200 | +1800 | +2200 |
| Miami Heat | +2500 | +2500 | +2300 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +2800 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +2800 | +2800 | +3300 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +3300 | +1600 | +2300 |
The Bucks, who were the top team in the Eastern Conference last season, did lose Jrue Holiday in the trade but managed to pair superstar point guard Damian Lillard with Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Bucks offered a 2023 first-round draft pick, Grayson Allen, and two pick swaps in 2028 and 2030 to secure this deal. They boast the most favorable odds to win the championship at +400.
Despite Middleton's injury-plagued season, the Bucks outperformed conference rivals like the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers in the 2022ā23 season.
Dame spoke it into existence š pic.twitter.com/WftDfR9c9a
ā Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 27, 2023
Giannis Antetokounmpo had expressed interest in exploring other options ahead of the 2023ā24 season, prompting the team to trade some depth and defensive stability for the highly sought-after superstar in the open market.
The implied probability of betting on the Bucks to win is around 20%, which feels a little low.
I think they're the clear-cut favorite in the East and would recommend betting on them at +400 to win the NBA Championship.
However, it's worth noting that Milwaukee faces stiff competition from other contenders.
Boston Celtics
Brad Stevens undertook a major overhaul of the Celtics' roster during the offseason, prompted by their Game 7 loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The transformation began with the trade of fan-favorite Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team deal, which brought Kristaps Porzingis to Boston.
Additionally, in response to the Bucks' significant roster upgrades, the Celtics seized the opportunity to reacquire their former point guard, Holiday.
Jrue Holiday in his new @celtics uniform šŖ#NBAMediaDay pic.twitter.com/mG5Gx5NY7n
ā NBA (@NBA) October 4, 2023
Holiday is arguably the sole NBA player who can outshine Marcus Smart regarding overall contributions on offense and defense. His presence as a fourth option is almost overqualified, offering much-needed playmaking abilities that Boston still needs to include.
Nonetheless, concerns regarding depth in Boston are valid, given the departure of several essential role players. Ensuring Kristaps Porzingis remains injury-free will be paramount, as will the seamless integration of these new additions.
Despite a talented rotation, the task of optimizing this roster will require some adept management from second-year coach Joe Mazzulla.
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets hold the third-best odds at +550 and have not made any major moves since securing their first-ever NBA title. They are followed by the Phoenix Suns (+550) and the Golden State Warriors (+1000).
Out in the Western Conference, the defending champion Denver Nuggets opted to retain the majority of their championship-winning roster from June.
While the loss of Bruce Brown off the bench could be felt, second-year guard Christian Braun is expected to step up.
The Nuggets are coming off their first NBA Championship victory, which they clinched with an impressive postseason performance, finishing with a 16-4 record in their 20 playoff games.
They secured the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and conquered opponents such as Minnesota, Phoenix, the Los Angeles Lakers, and ultimately, Miami.
While their path to victory didn't include formidable teams like Boston or Milwaukee, their unwavering dominance suggests that their triumph was no mere stroke of luck.
Nevertheless, the looming question is whether they can replicate this success.
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Phoenix Suns
The Suns bolstered their starting lineup significantly during the offseason by acquiring Bradley Beal in exchange for Chris Paul. However, concerns were raised about their depth.
Nevertheless, they addressed these concerns on Wednesday by acquiring Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson in exchange for Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara.
Trio in the desert šļø pic.twitter.com/J55d1qw5l0
ā Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 2, 2023
On the other hand, the Phoenix Suns made a noteworthy move by trading for star guard Bradley Beal to complement the talents of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.
Simultaneously, they offloaded DeAndre Ayton to Portland as part of the three-team Lillard deal, bolstering their depth.
I would not recommend betting on the Suns to win the Championship at +550 odds.
They're in a tough conference, and the teams above are much more talented than the Suns roster.
Check ourĀ top sportsbook reviewsĀ for the best odds on your favoriteĀ MLB gamesĀ before placing your bets.
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