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Nets See Their NBA Futures Odds Plummet Post-James Harden Trade

By Matt De Saro

Thre Brooklyn Nets odds took a hit when they unloaded James Harden on the Sixers for Ben Simmons.
Thre Brooklyn Nets odds took a hit when they unloaded James Harden on the Sixers for Ben Simmons. / Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
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The Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers pulled off a blockbuster deal at the trade deadline that sent James Harden to Philly and Ben Simmons to Brooklyn. Both players were disgruntled with Simmons sitting out the first four months refusing to play and Harden out for the last three games as he awaited a trade. 

While there are a lot of storylines surrounding this transaction, we’re going to take a look at it from a gambling perspective and take a look at the updated odds to win the NBA Finals. All odds listed are provided by WynnBET Sportsbook. 

Odds to Win the NBA Championship

  • Phoenix Suns +400
  • Golden State Warriors +450
  • Brooklyn Nets +600
  • Milwaukee Bucks +600
  • Philadelphia 76ers +700
  • Miami Heat +1200
  • Utah Jazz +1500

Right off the bat, it’s clear that the oddsmakers think that the 76ers came as the “winners” of the trade based on the odds before and after it went down. The Nets' odds to win actually got worse, going from +325 to +600. Meanwhile, the 76ers odds shortened by 50 percent from +1200 to +600.

Of course, it’s not exactly bad news for the Nets. They got rid of a problem and picked up someone else’s problem to fill in the gap. Offensively, they will be the most dangerous team in the East with Simmons being flanked by Kevin Durant, Seth Curry and Kyrie Irving. 

The reason why the 76ers' odds jumped so much has more to do with the fact that they didn’t really lose anything. Simmons has played a grand total of zero minutes this year and the situation was not going to work itself out. Embiid and Harden should be a better fit than Embiid was with Simmons as both like to play in the paint. 

I think that the Nets' odds movement is a good thing for us as it provides more value for a team that is still considered the most dangerous in the East. So long as Durant stays healthy and the new Brooklyn Big 3 is able to mesh, I think they are a strong choice to not only win the Eastern Conference but also the NBA Finals.

Follow all of Matt De Saro’s betting picks HERE

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