Nets, Lakers & Bucks Sit Atop 2021-22 NBA Title Odds As Season Tips Off
From blockbuster signings in Los Angeles to drama in Philadelphia and now Brooklyn, the NBA offseason was exciting to say the least. Now we’re just hours away from the basketball season officially tipping off, and the offseason chaos continues to have a major impact on NBA title odds at online sportsbook. Oddsmakers of course have stayed busy throughout it all.
In anticipation of the 2021-22 season, let’s take a look at how the NBA futures market is currently valuing teams’ prospects of winning the NBA title.
2021-22 NBA Title Odds
NBA title odds are courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook unless otherwise noted.
- Brooklyn Nets +230
- Los Angeles Lakers +400
- Milwaukee Bucks +800
- Golden State Warriors +1000
- Phoenix Suns +1500
- Utah Jazz +1500
- Los Angeles Clippers +1800
- Philadelphia 76ers +1800
- Denver Nuggets +2500
- Miami Heat +2500
- Dallas Mavericks +3000
- Atlanta Hawks +4000
- Boston Celtics +5000
- Chicago Bulls +6000
- Portland Trail Blazers +6000
- New York Knicks +8000
- Memphis Grizzlies +10000
- New Orleans Pelicans +10000
- Indiana Pacers +10000
- Toronto Raptors +12500
- Charlotte Hornets +15000
- Washington Wizards +15000
- Sacramento Kings +25000
- San Antonio Spurs +25000
- Minnesota Timberwolves +30000
- Cleveland Cavaliers +50000
- Houston Rockets +50000
- Detroit Pistons +50000
- Orlando Magic +50000
- Oklahoma City Thunder +50000
Brooklyn Nets (+250)
Best Book: FanDuel
Unquestionably, the Brooklyn Nets have the most talented team in the NBA heading into the new year. Bettors should not forget that the Nets were a single possession away from eliminating the eventual champion, Milwaukee Bucks, even with a hobbled James Harden and no Kyrie Irving. This offseason, Brooklyn added Patty Mills to the bench—an elite shooter who is going to be a fantastic spark for the Nets’ second-unit. They also brought back Blake Griffin, who played extremely well for the Nets after coming over from the Detroit Pistons near the end of the regular season. If Brooklyn can remain healthy, they should be everyone’s pick to win the title this year even if Irving remains absent.
Read more: Nets vs. Bucks Opening Night Picks
Los Angeles Lakers (+400)
Best Book: Caesars
At the end of July, the Lakers acquired Russell Westbrook for a collection of role players and a few draft picks. Let’s be clear—Westbrook, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis are a super team. In addition to their big-three, Rob Pelinka has done a masterful job filling out the rest of this roster with above-average players such as Malik Monk, Dwight Howard, Kent Bazemore, Carmelo Anthony, and Kendrick Nunn. This team feels top heavy to casual fans, but Frank Vogel has the most depth he has had since taking over in Los Angeles and is more than capable of building a legitimate contender with these pieces.
Read more: Warriors vs. Lakers Opening Night Odds
Golden State Warriors (+1000)
Best Book: BetMGM
The Golden State Warriors have the most volatile odds of any team in the NBA right now. They ended up not trading their two lottery picks on draft night, but they have still been linked to players such as Ben Simmons in recent weeks. If they do end up swapping some of their younger players for a mega-star, it is certain that their current price at sportsbooks will change dramatically. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and another top-20 player is absolutely a team that can contend for a championship. Bettors might want to consider dropping a few dollars here and hope for a blockbuster deal in the coming weeks to reignite the Golden State dynasty.
Phoenix Suns (+1700)
Best Book: DraftKings
It is not often that bettors will find a defending conference champion with such longshot odds to win the championship the following season. It is even more surprising considering that Phoenix re-signed Chris Paul and has numerous young pieces, such as Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and Mikal Bridges on their roster—all players capable of improving their game tremendously this offseason. As presently constructed, this roster has more talent and more depth than the Lakers, Warriors, and the Utah Jazz, who all have better odds to secure the Larry O’Brien trophy next June. The Western Conference is extremely competitive, but the Suns absolutely deserve to be taken more seriously when we are discussing the elite teams in the league.
Atlanta Hawks (+4000)
Best Book: Caesars
Similar to the Suns, the Atlanta Hawks are a team that feels incredibly undervalued at sportsbooks. While they are understandably not anyone’s favorite to win the Eastern Conference with a healthy Brooklyn and Milwaukee in their way, it is not unreasonable to think this team can at least make it back to the Eastern Conference Finals with quite a few young players still ascending in their careers. At their current price, this is almost certainly a wager that bettors can place now and profit on by hedging once the postseason begins next spring.
New York Knicks (+10000)
Best Book: Caesars
The New York Knicks roster, as currently constructed, is nowhere near good enough to win a title during the upcoming campaign. In the 2019-2020 season, New York finished a dreadful 21-45, but took a dramatic step forward last year to finish the regular season as the number four seed in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks re-signed veteran point guard Derrick Rose, brought back Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks, and added Evan Fournier, who is an extremely underrated asset on the perimeter. If New York is showing tangible improvement again as we approach the trade deadline, is it possible that a star such as Damian Lillard requests a deal sending him to the Big Apple, similar to when Carmelo Anthony wanted to join an up-and-coming New York team in 2011? Even if New York does not make the Finals, it is entirely possible that they make it deep enough into the postseason to make this current price a profitable hedge bet, especially if they add a bonafide star at some point between now and next March.
Image Credit: Imagn