NBA Power Rankings Based on Championship Odds (Kevin Durant Is Staying in Brooklyn)

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) and forward Kevin Durant.
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) and forward Kevin Durant. / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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Finally, we have a Kevin Durant resolution!

And it's basically what we all expected to happen. Durant and the Brooklyn Nets have come to an agreement for him to remain with the team, which makes plenty of sense since he has four years left on his current contract.

That should open up a few more moves to be made this offseason, including a potential Donovan Mitchell trade. But don't tell KD that he held up the offseason, Patrick Beverley learned that the hard way.

How does the KD domino effect the rest of the NBA? Well, it happened to perfectly coincide with our NBA Power Rankings, so let's break down where each team stands at this point in the offseason:

1. Golden State Warriors (+650)

I still don't understand why Boston is ahead of the Warriors in the latest odds, especially now that Durant is off the market.

2. Boston Celtics (+600)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown.
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown. / Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

I hope you didn't bet Boston at +400 when it was connected to Durant in the trade market...

3. Milwaukee Bucks (+700)

The Bucks should be one of the best teams in all of basketball regardless of where Kevin Durant plays.

4. Los Angeles Clippers (+700)

Health is the key for Los Angeles in the 2022-23 season, but they also have the depth to withstand an injury for at least some of the season.

5. Brooklyn Nets (+700)

Nets owner Joe Tsai.
Nets owner Joe Tsai. / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Tsai called Durant's bluff and it worked. The Nets are going to be title contenders as long as KD is in uniform.

6. Denver Nuggets (+1800)

The Nuggets are going to be a scary team with Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. flanking Nikola Jokic in the 2022-23 campaign.

7. Philadelphia 76ers (+1000)

Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden.
Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden. / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Sixers are in a solid spot, but they'll need James Harden to show up come playoff time.

8. Miami Heat (+1400)

Miami is going to play hard all season, and it may sneak into the top three again because of that. However, the Heat lack the offensive firepower to compete with some of the teams in the East, as evidenced in last year's playoffs.

9. Phoenix Suns (+800)

The Suns fumbled the Durant sweepstakes, and they seem destined to take a step back in an improved Western Conference.

10. Dallas Mavericks (+2500)

Dallas is banking on Christian Wood making a major impact, and while he should help them down low, losing Jalen Brunson's perimeter presence is still huge.

11. Memphis Grizzlies (+2000)

I don't like Memphis at these odds with Jaren Jackson Jr.'s status up in the air due to an injury.

12. New Orleans Pelicans (+4500)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram. / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Pelicans could make a leap in the West with Brandon Ingram, C.J. McCollum and Zion Williamson forming one of the most underrated trios in the NBA.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves (+4000)

The Wolves executed the offseason plan well, grabbing Rudy Gobert in a trade, but only time will tell if he meshes with the team's roster.

14. Los Angeles Lakers (+1400)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook. / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

So much for Kyrie Irving in L.A. It's looking more and more likely that the Lakers run things back in the 2022-23 season.

15. Atlanta Hawks (+4500)

The Hawks are in a tough spot, as they need to break into the top six in the 2021-22 season, but there is plenty of competition in the East.

16. Chicago Bulls (+6000)

The Bulls are a definite loser from the Durant decision, as their path in the East just got a whole lot harder.

17. Toronto Raptors (+3000)

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes.
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes. / Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

With Durant off the market, Scottie Barnes won't be going anywhere for Toronto. The Raptors may be better off in the long run building with this younger core.

18. Cleveland Cavaliers (+10000)

If the Cavs find a way to keep Collin Sexton for the long term, they are going to be a contender in the East for years to come.

19. New York Knicks (+8000)

The Knicks have jumped from +10000 to +8000 in the odds... does that mean Donovan Mitchell is on his way?

20. Portland Trail Blazers (+10000)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard. / Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

The West is absolutely loaded, so the Blazers are going to need Damian Lillard to get back to his First-Team All-NBA form to make a playoff run.

21. Charlotte Hornets (+15000)

Should the Hornets go after Mitchell? Or, should they move off of veterans like Gordon Hayward given the downgrades on their roster from this offseason?

22. Utah Jazz (+15000)

The Jazz now hold the biggest trade chip this offseason in guard Donovan Mitchell.

23. Detroit Pistons (+50000)

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham. / Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

The Pistons are building things the right way with their young core, and Cade Cunningham has superstar potential after closing his rookie season strong.

24. Washington Wizards (+30000)

If Wizards fans were hoping the Nets would fall off in the East to open up a playoff spot, those dreams were dashed on Tuesday.

25. Sacramento Kings (+50000)

Sacramento seems primed to make a playoff push by the trade deadline in the 2022-23 season. Whether it works or not is another story...

26. Oklahoma City Thunder (+50000)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren. / Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

OKC team is flush with young talent, but Chet Holmgren getting injured in a pickup game this offseason is certainly not what fans wanted to see.

27. Orlando Magic (+50000)

I really like Orlando's young core, and Paolo Banchero could turn this team around sooner than you may think.

28. Indiana Pacers (+50000)

The Pacers may have an easy path to deal Buddy Hield or Myles Turner now that Durant is off the table.

29. San Antonio Spurs (+50000)

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. / Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

Does KD returning open up the Spurs to potentially help facilitate another trade? If it brings them draft capital it certainly could happen.

30. Houston Rockets (+50000)

Houston is going to be a high-flying young team, but it has to get better on the defensive end after a brutal 2021-22 season.


Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.