NBA Power Rankings Based on NBA Championship Odds Ahead of Trade Deadline (Does Kyrie Irving Make Mavs Contenders?
By Peter Dewey
The NBA's trade deadline is upon us, as teams have until Feb. 9 to make deals to bolster their rosters, or sell of pieces to build for the future.
The Dallas Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets got the party started on Sunday by agreeing to a deal that will send Kyrie Irving to Dallas.
Luka Doncic finally has a running mate, but now the Nets' long-term plan around Kevin Durant is in question.
There are several teams (Chicago, Toronto, Charlotte, both Los Angeles teams and more) that are expected to be active at the deadline, and almost all for different reasons.
Can the Lakers finally get LeBron James some more help? Will the Raptors sell of key pieces like Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr.?
Which contender will make a move to put it over the top?
With so many questions, the deadline is one of the best times around the NBA, and it may be the last time you can truly get betting value in the futures market.
Here's the latest NBA Power Rankings with each team's Finals odds, including a few you may want to consider betting on now:
1. Boston Celtics (+350) Last Week: No. 1
Boston hangs onto the No. 1 spot ahead of the deadline, but Milwaukee is just a game back of the Celtics after Monday's NBA action.
2. Milwaukee Bucks (+650) LW: No. 3
The Bucks have won eight straight since Khris Middleton's return to the lineup and are 12-3 with him healthy this season. If they add a wing at the deadline they're going to be tough to beat.
3. Denver Nuggets (+700) LW: No. 2
Denver has opened up a 4.5-game lead in the Western Conference, but the team appears to be willing to deal Bones Hyland for a rotation player at the deadline.
4. Philadelphia 76ers (+900) LW: No. 4
The Sixers are playing some great basketball over the last two months, but will Daryl Morey look to add another piece at the deadline?
5. Los Angeles Clippers (+800) LW: No. 8
Don't look now, but the Clippers are 8-2 in their last 10, ranking No. 2 in the league in offensive rating. They could be in the market for a point guard (Fred VanVleet anyone?) at the deadline.
6. Memphis Grizzlies (+1100) LW: No. 5
Memphis drops a spot amidst a rough patch, going just 2-8 in its last 10 games. Steven Adams' absence has hurt more than expected.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (+2200) LW: No. 7
Cleveland could be in the market for a wing at the deadline, but this team is already pretty well built ahead of the deadline.
8. Sacramento Kings (+6500) LW: No. 10
The Kings got back on track with De'Aaron Fox returning on Monday, and they still hold the No. 3 spot in the West ahead of the deadline.
9. Phoenix Suns (+1800) LW: No. 14
Phoenix is alive in the West, and Devin Booker is expected to return on Tuesday night. Do the Suns finally find a deal for Jae Crowder by Thursday?
10. Dallas Mavericks (+1500) LW: No. 12
The Mavericks added Kyrie Irving, moving their odds form +3500 to +1500. However, does the team have the depth or defense to truly contend for a title? I'm not so sure.
11. Miami Heat (+4000) LW: No. 11
The Heat are battling for the No. 6 spot in the East with the Knicks, and they could move point guard Kyle Lowry at the deadline to improve this roster.
12. Brooklyn Nets (+1800) LW: No. 6
The Nets' odds have plummeted (+600 to +1800) following the Irving trade. I won't count out Kevin Durant, but this team is much worse than we would have expected now that we're at the deadline.
13. New York Knicks (+25000) LW: No. 15
New York is just half a game out of the No. 6 spot in the East, but it still has a weak bench unit. Does move Cam Reddish net the Knicks a rotation player at the deadline? Most likely not.
14. Golden State Warriors (+1200) LW: No. 9
Steph Curry is out for at least a few weeks with a leg injury, and the Warriors may need to move a youngster like James Wiseman to give this team some more proven depth this season.
15. Minnesota Timberwolves (+20000) LW: No. 16
The biggest question at the deadline for the Wolves is whether or not they will move D'Angelo Russell, who has been playing well but is in the last year of his deal.
16. New Orleans Pelicans (+2500) LW: No. 13
The Pelicans need Zion Williamson back, as they've lost eight of their last 10 to slip to ninth in the Western Conference.
17. Atlanta Hawks (+6500) LW: No. 18
Atlanta is just .500 on the season, but its odds have moved from +9000 to +6500. Do oddsmakers know there is a move on the horizon?
18. Chicago Bulls (+35000) LW: No. 21
Chicago has quietly won three straight games, and it may stand pat through the deadline.
19. Utah Jazz (+40000) LW: No. 17
The Jazz could make some moves at the deadline, but the team has also overachieved this season. It makes sense to move off some overachieving veterans for future assets.
20. Portland Trail Blazers (+15000) LW: No. 22
Does Portland make a move to help Damian Lillard this season? Or will the Blazers, now out of the play-in in the No. 11 spot, move Josh Hart or Jusuf Nurkic to recoup some assets?
21. Toronto Raptors (+15000) LW: No. 24
The Raptors could be the biggest sellers at the deadline, with Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., OG Anunoby and even Pascal Siakam all rumored in trade talks.
22. Los Angeles Lakers (+3500) LW: No. 23
The Lakers need to make a move, but after missing out on Kyrie Irving, is there even a deal out there that makes them a title contender?
23. Oklahoma City Thunder (+70000) LW: No. 19
OKC likely won't be active in the trade market, but it's had a few bad losses over the past week to fall back into 12th in the West.
24. Washington Wizards (+35000) LW: No. 20
The rollercoasters season continues for the Wizards, who have lost three straight. Do they try to make the play-in and bring back Kyle Kuzma in the offseason or trade him by Thursday?
25. Indiana Pacers (+50000) LW: No. 25
The Pacers are clinging to a play-in spot, but they have fallen off in a big way, partly due to Tyrese Haliburton's injury. They look like a team that will stand pat at the deadline.
26. Orlando Magic (+100000) LW: No. 26
I feel like Orlando belongs higher on this list, but a really slow start this season may have cost it any chance at the play-in tournament in the East.
27. Charlotte Hornets (+100000) LW: No. 27
Could Charlotte move Kelly Oubre or Gordon Hayward in a lost season? It's not out of the question.
28. Detroit Pistons (+100000) LW: No. 29
Detroit's biggest trade chip is Bojan Bogdanovic, but since he is under contract the team could wait till the offseason to move him. Don't be shocked in Nerlens Noel is moved at the deadline.
29. San Antonio Spurs (+100000) LW: No. 28
The Spurs have lost nine straight games and have the worst net rating in the NBA. All of their vets should be up for grabs by the deadline.
30. Houston Rockets (+100000) LW: No. 30
Another week for Houston in the No. 30 spot, and one has to think the Rockets try to move veteran Eric Gordon at the deadline to free up more minutes for their young guys.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.