Rockets Strengthen, Haliburton Injured: The NBA Landscape Shifts
The moves in the NBA have shaken up the bets for next season. The trade of Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets and the injury of Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers have altered expectations, although the champion Oklahoma City Thunder remains the favorite. The Thunder, after defeating the Pacers in the seventh game of the Finals, begin the preseason as favorites with odds of +220 in the betting. The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Rockets are next on the list, both with odds of +800, followed by the New York Knicks with +850. Durant’s transfer boosted the Rockets, going from +1800 to +800 after the agreement with the Phoenix Suns. For a while, the Rockets had the second-best odds, but Haliburton’s injury readjusted the bets, favoring the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference. Haliburton’s injury caused the Pacers to fall from 10-1 to 40-1. The Boston Celtics, favorites in the previous two seasons, have odds of 13-1. They also face a significant setback: Jayson Tatum is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury that could keep him out for much of next season.The Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers are at +1400, followed by the Orlando Magic (+1500) and the Denver Nuggets (+1600).His absence is definitely the key factor in the Celtics’ price, given his importance to the team’s success in recent years.
Adrian Horton, trading director for ESPN BET
