Nets Trade For James Harden: Brooklyn's Title Odds Slashed Following Blockbuster Deal
NBA Championship Odds: Brooklyn's Title Odds Slashed Following Deal for Harden
There have been trade rumblings surrounding James Harden for months now. As a matter of fact, it’s been pretty much going on since the end of last season’s disappointing playoff run for the Houston Rockets. On Wednesday those rumblings turned into a roar before becoming a reality, as Houston shipped Harden to the Brooklyn Nets for a stockpile of draft picks and players.
Lots of things happened once the deal was announced. But, most importantly, the balance of power throughout the Eastern Conference, and the entire NBA, shifted dramatically.
Harden, who is an 8x All-Star, joins superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on an already stacked Nets squad. As news of the trade spread and fans began to react, sportsbooks began to do the same.
NBA Championship Betting
According to our friends at DraftKings, The Nets were +500 to win the NBA Championship this season, prior to the announcement of the Harden deal. Those odds are indicative of a 16.7% chance.
After Harden was shipped to Brooklyn, those odds almost halved, being slashed to +300 and implying a 25% shot they get a ring. The betting public has also responded to the shortening of odds as 73.91% of all NBA Championship outrights in the last 24 hours have been placed on the Nets.
Their +300 championship odds are also tied with the LA Lakers for the shortest in the entire league.
As far as the Eastern Conference is concerned, the Nets are now the leaders in the clubhouse. As of Thursday, their best odds of +150 are tops in the league and mean oddsmakers are giving them a 40% chance of going to the Finals.
NBA Championship Odds
LA Lakers +300 - Click to Bet
Brooklyn Nets +300 - Click to Bet
LA Clippers +650 - Click to Bet
Milwaukee Bucks +700 - Click to Bet
Boston Celtics +2200 - Click to Bet
Denver Nuggets +2200 - Click to Bet
Dallas Mavericks +2500 - Click to Bet
Miami Heat +2500 - Click to Bet
Philadelphia 76ers +2500 - Click to Bet