NBA Power Rankings Based on Championship Odds (Are Cavs Contenders With Donovan Mitchell?)
By Peter Dewey
It's official, Donovan Mitchell is a Cleveland Cavalier.
Danny Ainge and the Utah Jazz pulled a fast one on the New York Knicks last week, shipping Mitchell to Cleveland for three unprotected first-round picks, two pick swaps, Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen and Ochai Agbaji.
Utah is officially in rebuild mode, while Cleveland, who narrowly missed the playoffs last season, is immediately a contender in the Eastern Conference.
Does that mean another Eastern Conference team is going to take a huge fall in the rankings? Well, let's jump into it in our latest NBA Power Rankings, based on the NBA championship odds at FanDuel:
1. Golden State Warriors (+700)
The Warriors have dropped to +700, but why? If young guys like Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga and James Wiseman improve, Golden State may be better than it was last season.
2. Boston Celtics (+500)
Boston lost Danilo Gallinari for the season, but it is still the favorite to win the title and the East in the 2022-23 campaign.
3. Milwaukee Bucks (+650)
The Bucks have jumped Golden State in the odds, and it's hard to complain about it when they still have Giannis Antetokounmpo.
4. Los Angeles Clippers (+700)
The Clippers are extremely deep, and I'm as high on them as the oddsmakers are entering the 2022-23 season.
5. Brooklyn Nets (+700)
Kevin Durant is back, and the Nets are a dangerous team if he, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons all stay healthy.
6. Denver Nuggets (+2100)
Denver may be the best value on the board, as this team has been a playoff team without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. and now gets to add both players into the fold.
7. Philadelphia 76ers (+1700)
The Sixers added Montrezl Harrell on Tuesday, and they could be a sneaky regular season team in the East.
8. Phoenix Suns (+1000)
The Suns will benefit from Utah dropping out of the playoff race in the West, as they should be one of the top six teams in the conference.
9. Miami Heat (+1800)
The Heat didn't get Donovan Mitchell, but now they can move forward and extend Tyler Herro to run things back in the 2022-23 season.
10. Dallas Mavericks (+2700)
Tim Hardaway Jr. will have to be Luka Doncic's right hand man with Jalen Brunson now in New York.
11. Memphis Grizzlies (+2400)
Ja Morant and the Grizzlies earned the No. 2 seed in the West last season, but can they repeat that performance?
12. Los Angeles Lakers (+2500)
Patrick Beverley gives the Lakers more options at the guard position, but does he make them title contenders? The short answer is no.
13. Cleveland Cavaliers (+3300)
Cleveland has a great young core with Darius Garland, Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. This team could make a major leap in the East.
14. Minnesota Timberwolves (+3300)
The Wolves should be one of the better defenses in the NBA with Rudy Gobert anchoring the team in the 2022-23 season.
15. New Orleans Pelicans (+5000)
The Pelicans may be undervalued at this number with Zion Williamson healthy in the 2022-23 season.
16. Toronto Raptors (+4500)
The Raptors are another team that is hurt by the Mitchell trade, but they have a lot of young talent that can develop and improve heading into this season.
17. Atlanta Hawks (+5000)
The Hawks are hoping Dejounte Murray is enough to keep them in the playoffs in the East.
18. Chicago Bulls (+5000)
The Bulls are certainly a loser from the Mitchell deal, as Cleveland may leapfrog them in the standings.
19. Portland Trail Blazers (+12000)
Portland has a shot at the playoffs with Utah essentially out of the picture.
20. New York Knicks (+12000)
The Knicks lost out on Donovan Mitchell, but they are still armed with assets to pursue another star, if one becomes available.
21. Charlotte Hornets (+12000)
This Charlotte team seems destined to take a step back given all the offseason turmoil it has had to endure.
22. Washington Wizards (+20000)
Washington is hoping that Bradley Beal's new deal will lead the team to the postseason over the next five seasons.
23. Utah Jazz (+20000)
Sam Presti watch out, Danny Ainge has entered the draft-pick sweepstakes.
24. Sacramento Kings (+43000)
The Kings' path to the playoffs became clearer with Utah trading away Mitchell.
25. Detroit Pistons (+50000)
The Pistons have some fun young talent, but the playoffs seems like a lofty goal in this Eastern Conference.
26. Orlando Magic (+50000)
Can No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero lead the Magic to the playoffs in a loaded Eastern Conference? He's certainly facing an uphill battle...
27. Indiana Pacers (+50000)
The Pacers could really blow things up by trading Buddy Hield and Myles Turner, but Tyrese Haliburton is the leader of this team going forward.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder (+50000)
Sorry Thunder fans, but Chet Holmgren's injury almost certainly makes this another rebuilding season.
29. San Antonio Spurs (+50000)
Keldon Johnson could be a breakout player with the Spurs looking to rebuild.
30. Houston Rockets (+50000)
Houston has some exciting young offensive players, but the Rockets don't seem ready to compete this season.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.