As the 2024/25 NBA season begins, it’s clear that the consensus pick for the NBA Championship remains the Boston Celtics. The 18-time champion is the clear favorite to move into 19th place in June. And for good reason: The Celtics have everyone back on the roster who contributed to their last dominant season.
Of course, it’s not natural for the Celtics to repeat the same thing. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks are all listed as spoilers for Boston to take No. 19. Their odds suggest that sportsbooks also feel that’s a possibility.
However, we think sportsbooks may be getting things a little wrong on some teams. I’m not saying they’ll definitely win the NBA Championship, but I feel like the odds are a little too high for a team with genuine playoff aspirations. Let’s take a look at five teams that could defy long odds, starting with a bonafide championship contender.
minnesota timberwolves
Timberwolves price is +1000 at current prices on DraftKings nba odds To win everything this season. Will that happen? who knows? But this is a very good team that made some smart moves in the offseason. The Wolves won 56 games and had a decent record throughout the playoffs. Sure, the game against the Mavs in the Western Conference Finals was disappointing, but there’s also an argument that Minnesota got the lion’s share of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade by acquiring Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. . An MVP-caliber star player in Anthony Edwards is on the rise. In our view, they should definitely be in the frame, perhaps by a fraction of a second at odds.
memphis grizzlies
56 wins in the 2021/22 season. 51 wins in the 2022/23 season. 27 wins in the 2023/24 season. Last season proved to be a troubling one for the Grizzlies, a season marked by injury woes at their worst level in history. Only two players started more than 40 games all season, and key players like Derrick Rose, Marcus Smart and Ja Morant started just 36 games during that span. If the Grizzlies stay healthy, they’ll be back on the team, and +3000 odds to win the NBA Championship seem too high for a team with a ceiling.
los angeles lakers
orlando magic
A truly exciting team to win an unlikely NBA Championship at great odds of +6500. Again, I don’t think they’re completely ready yet, but for a team on the upswing, that possibility is too long. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope further strengthens a roster already full of youthful potential, and believes Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero could continue their trajectory as future stars. It may be too early to talk about championships, but it would rule out a breakout season like the Oklahoma City Thunder’s on the map.
cleveland cavaliers
Many pundits believe we’re all sleeping on the Cavaliers this year. do we agree with them? There is some logic to this debate, although not entirely. Essentially, the argument is that Kenny Atkinson replaced J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach and the fact that some of the players on the roster are reaching their prime, at least in terms of age. Again, +6000 odds suggest that sportsbooks believe the championship is out of reach, but the Cavs could be the surprise package in the Eastern Conference this season.
