NBA TITLE FUTURES: BEST ODDS AND PICKS – AUGUST 2024

NBA TITLE FUTURES BEST ODDS AND PICKS—AUGUST 2024—Greetings, basketball fans. Welcome back to our NBA coverage here at Godzilla Wins. Although we are in the middle of the offseason, it is never too early to start discussing the players and teams who are the frontrunners to win some hardware.

The Boston Celtics knocked off the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals in 2023-24.  Do these teams have the best odds of winning it all next season?

Let’s take a look and find out.

Odds courtesy of DraftKings 

Top NBA Title Odds: Boston Celtics (+295)

The Celtics were the toast of the league last season. They steamrolled to a 64-18 regular-season record. After finishing with the best record in the association, Boston also had an impressive playoff run.

Although they lost home games against the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first two rounds, the Celtics closed out both series in five games. In the conference finals, the Celtics faced an Indiana Pacers team that had not been to the ECF since 2014.

The series did not last long, as the Celtics swept Indiana, giving them a 12-2 record through the first three rounds of the playoffs. The last obstacle the Celtics had to overcome was defeating a Dallas Mavericks squad that had also put together a solid playoff run.

Boston took the first three games before suffering a blowout loss in Game 4. This was the team’s first postseason loss on the road. But as they had done all season, the Celtics bounced back to conclude the series in five games, clinching their first title since 2008.

Following a dominant postseason run that resulted in a championship, it isn’t shocking that the Celtics are atop the leaderboard in the early title odds race.

Second-Best NBA Title Odds: OKC Thunder (+700)

Just two seasons ago, the Thunder were coming off consecutive campaigns in which they failed to reach the 25-win threshold as they finished with a 24-58 record in 2021-22. Over the last two seasons, OKC has increased its win total by 16 and 17 games, respectively.

As a result, their 57-25 mark in 2023-24 earned them the top seed in the Western Conference. The Thunder made quick work of the New Orleans Pelicans, knocking them out in four games. OKC got off to a strong start in the conference semifinals against the Mavericks, defeating them by a 117-95 margin in the series opener.

Unfortunately, the Cinderella run came to an end, as the Mavericks closed out the series in six games. The Thunder acquired defensive stalwart Alex Caruso from the Chicago Bulls via a trade. They also signed former New York Knicks center Isiah Hartenstein to give this ball club some inside presence.

Only time will tell if these moves will be enough to help the Thunder produce a deep playoff run next season.

3. Philadelphia 76ers (+850)

It has been the same old story for the Sixers. They have notched playoff berths in each of their last seven seasons. However, they have not advanced past the second round of the postseason during that stretch. This includes a 4-2 series loss to the Knicks in the 2024 NBA playoffs.

Philly took a huge swing during free agency and landed nine-time All-Star Paul George. The sides agreed to a four-year deal worth $212 million. The Sixers also inked Tyrese Maxey to a max extension, providing the team with a formidable trio, with Joel Embiid as the centerpiece.

The caveat is that Embiid has never played 70 games in an NBA season. Additionally, Maxey missed 12 games last season and 22 games during the 2022-23 campaign. So, although the George acquisition dramatically improved the team’s title odds from +1500 to +850, durability issues are certainly a concern for this ball club.

4. New York Knicks (+900)

Last season, the Knicks finished with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, 50-32. This was the team’s best record since 2012, when it finished with a 54-28 mark.

As it was previously mentioned, the Knicks ousted the Sixers in the opening round of the playoffs. But injuries derailed the team’s chances in the conference semifinals against the Pacers. Although the series did go seven games, injuries prevented the Knicks from coming out on top in that series.

New York was also active during the offseason. They sent five first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges, who is regarded as one of the best two-way players in the league. They also re-signed OG Anunoby to a five-year deal worth $212.5 million. He finished last season with averages of 14.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest.

New York is slated to win 52.5 wins next season, which is their highest win total since the 1997-98 campaign. Whether the Knicks are legitimate title contenders remains to be seen. However, they have successfully closed the gap between themselves and the top-tier teams in the conference.

5. Denver Nuggets (+950)

The Nuggets won it all in 2022-23, and they were 24 minutes away from advancing to a Western Conference finals matchup against the Mavericks. That said, it is surprising to see teams like the Sixers and Knicks with better title odds than a team just one season removed from hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy.

During the offseason, the Nuggets signed Russell Westbrook to a multi-year deal. Russell spent the last three seasons playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Clippers. The team also re-signed De’Andre Jordan, who appeared in 36 games for the Nuggets last season.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Nuggets traded Reggie Jackson to the Charlotte Hornets, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signed a three-year deal with the up-and-coming Orlando Magic.

Do the former champions have enough talent to notch one of the top records in a competitive Western Conference again (they finished tied for first with the Thunder last season), or is their championship window slowly closing?