NBA Power Rankings Based on Championship Odds (Donovan Mitchell, Kevin Durant Markets Remain Quiet)
By Peter Dewey
We have officially reached the dog days of the NBA offseason.
While fans wait for the Kevin Durant, Donovan Mitchell and ... Collin Sexton (?) dominoes to fall this offseason, our best basketball action has been watching various players tear it up in the Drew League this summer.
Not much has changed in the latest NBA championship odds at WynnBET, but that's not going to stop us from giving our weekly NBA Power Rankings:
1. Golden State Warriors (+650)
I'm excited to see more of the Warriors' young guys step up to fill the holes from Otto Porter Jr. and Gary Payton II leaving in free agency.
2. Boston Celtics (+400)
Boston is still the favorite in the odds, but does that remain if Jaylen Brown stays and the team doesn't get Kevin Durant?
3. Milwaukee Bucks (+700)
You won't catch me putting a healthy Bucks team much lower than the top five in these rankings all season long.
4. Los Angeles Clippers (+700)
The Clippers are going to be a top-2 seed in the West. I'm calling it now, please don't screenshot this and prove me wrong later.
5. Phoenix Suns (+800)
The Suns should contend again in the 2022-23 season, but they haven't done enough for me to trust them over Golden State in the West.
6. Miami Heat (+1300)
Maybe Miami has another move up it's sleeve, but right now the Heat have a hole at power forward with the departure of P.J. Tucker.
7. Philadelphia 76ers (+1200)
The Sixers have gone from +1500 to +1200 at WynnBET to win the title...
8. Denver Nuggets (+1800)
Denver could be a sneaky top seed in the West with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. all healthy.
9. Dallas Mavericks (+2500)
It's hard not to believe in Luka Doncic, but losing Jalen Brunson for nothing was a tough break for Dallas.
10. Brooklyn Nets (+1000)
If KD and Kyrie stay, this number is worth a bet. But that is far from a guarantee at this point in the offseason.
11. Memphis Grizzlies (+2500)
Does Memphis prove that last season wasn't a fluke? The Grizz lost some depth this offseason with Kyle Anderson and De'Anthony Melton no longer around.
12. Atlanta Hawks (+4500)
The Hawks' odds are dropping, which is confusing given their upgrades this offseason.
13. Los Angeles Lakers (+1300)
Please, please don't bet the Lakers at this price. This team still has serious issues outside of LeBron James and a hopefully healthy Anthony Davis.
14. New Orleans Pelicans (+4000)
I'm super high on this Pelicans team that made the playoffs and now adds Zion Williamson back to the fold.
15. Minnesota Timberwolves (+4000)
I'm intrigued for Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns together, but I don't think the Wolves are title contenders yet.
16. Chicago Bulls (+6000)
The Bulls aren't getting much love in Vegas after collapsing in the second half of last season.
17. Toronto Raptors (+3000)
I know Toronto has been rumored to be in on KD, but without him, these odds are entirely too high.
18. Cleveland Cavaliers (+10000)
I really want to see Cleveland bring back Sexton, and it appears they have the best offer to this point in the offseason.
19. New York Knicks (+10000)
The Knicks may not end up with Donovan Mitchell, but they did improve with the Jalen Brunson signing this offseason.
20. Portland Trail Blazers (+8000)
The Blazers could be a sneaky team in the West, but it feels like they run different variations (all average) of a roster next to Damian Lillard year in and year out.
21. Charlotte Hornets (+15000)
LaMelo Ball is great, but the rest of the Hornets' roster is not. They could be a team that regresses in the East in the 2022-23 season.
22. Utah Jazz (+15000)
It really feels like Utah is waiting for someone to match the insane price for Donovan Mitchell, and I think he could start the season in Utah.
23. Detroit Pistons (+50000)
Cade Cunningham and the Pistons could jump into the play-in conversation this season.
24. Washington Wizards (+30000)
The Wizards are going to be what they've always been with Bradley Beal: A borderline playoff team that has no chance at winning a title.
25. Sacramento Kings (+50000)
The Western Conference is going to be much better than it was last season, and the Kings may be left out of the playoff fun again.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder (+50000)
Until the Thunder show they want to win, they can only go so high on this list, despite all of the young talent.
27. Orlando Magic (+50000)
I think Paolo Banchero is a game changer for the Magic, but I don't know if he puts them in the playoff conversation in Year 1.
28. Indiana Pacers (+50000)
The Pacers could really embrace their tank by trading Myles Turner and Buddy Hield prior to the 2022-23 season.
29. San Antonio Spurs (+50000)
Can the Spurs find their next Tim Duncan in the 2023 NBA Draft? It appears that's what they're focused on.
30. Houston Rockets (+50000)
The Rockets have a ton of young talent that they'll get to test out in the 2022-23 season.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.