The Eastern Conference has undergone a significant transformation over the past 10 days, capped by the Celtics trading Jaylen Brown to the 76ers in exchange for Paul George and picks.
Philadelphia, which finished seventh in the East last season, moved from +1600 to win the conference to +800 on theScore Bet following Brown's addition. Inserting the 2024 Finals MVP into a lineup that already features Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe gives the team a formidable starting lineup and one that should drastically improve upon last year's 45-win regular season.
Meanwhile, the betting market did not approve of the Celtics' side of the deal. Boston was considered the early betting favorite to win the East next season at +225 - ahead of the reigning NBA champion Knicks - but has slipped to second on the oddsboard after trading Brown, creating a logjam atop the conference.
Odds to win Eastern Conference
| Team | EC odds (7/2) | EC odds (6/21) |
|---|---|---|
| Knicks | +300 | +275 |
| Celtics | +425 | +225 |
| Heat | +750 | +1300 |
| Raptors | +750 | +2800 |
| 76ers | +800 | +1600 |
| Cavaliers | +900 | +1000 |
| Pistons | +900 | +750 |
🏀 Bet on who will win the Eastern Conference and NBA championship with theScore Bet here
The 76ers' odds to win the title also shortened by a noteworthy amount, moving from +6000 to +2500 (3.8% implied probability), while the Celtics' odds shifted in the other direction, lengthening from +575 to +1000.
Overshadowed by the Brown-George deal was Kawhi Leonard's return to the Raptors, which had a greater impact on a team's chances of success than any other move so far this offseason.
Toronto went from a long shot to win the East at +2800 to +750, an implied probability increase of 8.4%. The Raptors were also +10000 to win the NBA title, but their acquisition of Leonard has rocketed them up the oddsboard to +1800, which places Toronto among the league's favorites.
Days earlier, the Heat's trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo kicked off the Eastern Conference shake-up, with Miami vaulting from sixth on the oddsboard to third.
Most of the seismic moves are likely over. However, LeBron James is still a free agent, and a return to Cleveland isn't out of the question. James is +130 to sign with the Cavaliers on theScore Bet, and he's +450 to land in Miami. Many expect the NBA's all-time leading scorer to link up with Steph Curry in the Bay Area, but LeBron heading east would certainly flip the oddsboard around once more.
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