Buy these 3 teams after busy NBA trade deadline
After one of the busiest NBA trade deadlines in recent memory, there's a bit more intrigue heading into the final month of the regular season. Yes, the Lakers and Nets are still clear favorites to win it all, but there's value on some teams with revamped rosters.
Here are the updated title odds with a few teams you should buy after the deadline:
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | +160 |
| Brooklyn Nets | +200 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +600 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +600 |
| Utah Jazz | +600 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1600 |
| Denver Nuggets | +2000 |
| Miami Heat | +2500 |
| Boston Celtics | +2800 |
| Phoenix Suns | +3000 |
| Toronto Raptors | +4000 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +5000 |
| Indiana Pacers | +5000 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | +6500 |
| San Antonio Spurs | +7000 |
| Golden State Warriors | +8000 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +10000 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +12500 |
| Washington Wizards | +15000 |
| Charlotte Hornets | +20000 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +20000 |
| Chicago Bulls | +25000 |
| Houston Rockets | +25000 |
| Orlando Magic | +25000 |
| Sacramento Kings | +25000 |
| New York Knicks | +40000 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +50000 |
| Detroit Pistons | +50000 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +50000 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +50000 |
Denver Nuggets (+2000)
Entering the second half of the season, the Nuggets were 22-1 to win it all. Since then, they've been a borderline top-10 team and added intriguing wing Aaron Gordon at the deadline - and their odds have barely moved.
Gordon is a tough fit on most NBA teams, but he's a seamless one in Denver as a slasher and secondary playmaker alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. He's also the type of athletic, switchable wing defender that the Nuggets have badly needed since letting Jerami Grant walk this summer. Gordon isn't a star, but he markedly improves this team's title hopes.
Miami Heat (+2500)
I've had a soft spot for the Heat since before the season, and Thursday's deal for Victor Oladipo only strengthens my conviction that Miami will be a tough out in the postseason. Since Feb. 18, the Heat rank just outside of the top 10 in net rating (plus-1.9) and outside the top five in defensive rating (108.5), though they've still struggled to find a consistent top scorer when Jimmy Butler is off.
Despite his clear discontent with his situation, Oladipo averaged 21.2 points in 20 games with the Rockets and is an ideal fit in Miami's defensive scheme, too. The former All-NBA star should unlock an even higher ceiling for last year's Eastern Conference champions.
Portland Trail Blazers (+6500)
This was already a good time to buy the Trail Blazers, who welcomed CJ McCollum back to the court on March 16 and should have Jusuf Nurkic in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Magic. Then, they added Norman Powell, who's quietly been one of the best 3-and-D players in the league over the past two seasons.
The former Raptors wing is one of 16 players to average at least two made 3-pointers and one steal in each of the last two seasons, and he's been red-hot over his last 28 games - averaging 23.5 points on 52.7% shooting and 45% from deep. Dropping him onto a playoff-ready roster with Lillard and Co. makes this team an easy call at long odds.
(Odds source: theScore Bet)
C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.