Durant's trade request shakes up NBA title market ahead of free agency
The Kevin Durant sweepstakes are officially underway, and the NBA title market can hardly keep up.
After days of speculation about his future with the Nets, the 10-time All-NBA forward formally requested a trade on Thursday, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Nets plan to accommodate his trade request, per Wojnarowski.
The reaction in the betting market was swift, with some books taking down their NBA title odds entirely. At Barstool Sportsbook, the Nets' title odds quickly moved from +700 to +1300 - a price that could continue to plummet if and when Durant is moved.
Oddsmakers also raced to adjust prices for the Suns (+600) and Heat (+800), the two teams that headline Durant's preferred wishlist of trade destinations, per Wojnarowski.
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | +450 |
| Boston Celtics | +600 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +600 |
| Phoenix Suns | +600 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +700 |
| Miami Heat | +800 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +1200 |
| Brooklyn Nets | +1300 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1300 |
| Denver Nuggets | +1400 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +1500 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +1500 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +4000 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +5000 |
| Toronto Raptors | +5000 |
| Utah Jazz | +5000 |
| Chicago Bulls | +5500 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +7000 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | +8000 |
| Charlotte Hornets | +10000 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +10000 |
| New York Knicks | +25000 |
| Houston Rockets | +50000 |
| Orlando Magic | +50000 |
| Sacramento Kings | +50000 |
| San Antonio Spurs | +50000 |
| Washington Wizards | +50000 |
| Detroit Pistons | +75000 |
| Indiana Pacers | +100000 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +100000 |
Just a day ago, Phoenix and Miami were both +1000 to win the title, but the reaction was immediate in the wake of Thursday's bombshell news. Both teams saw their odds move even before Wojnarowski identified them as options - fueling speculation that they were possible landing spots for Durant.
It's a stunning development in the hours before NBA free agency, which was already set to shake up the betting market. We highlighted the Suns as potential targets for a big offseason on Wednesday, and they appear poised to offer the best package for the future Hall of Famer. That haul could include rising two-way star Mikal Bridges and pending free agent Deandre Ayton in a potential sign-and-trade.
Don't count out the Heat, who have long been hunting for superstars on the trade market. Reigning Sixth Man of the Year Tyler Herro would presumably headline a package with multiple future draft picks. But with Bam Adebayo off the table for cap reasons, Miami might not have the package to compete with Phoenix and others.
Keep an eye on the Raptors (+5000), who are also reportedly in the mix for the star forward. They have potentially the best trade chip of all in Scottie Barnes, who dazzled a year ago en route to Rookie of the Year honors. It's unclear whether Toronto executive Masai Ujiri would be open to dealing Barnes, but this team has a history of trading for malcontent stars to spur a title run (see: 2019).
C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.