Biggest Changes in Odds for 2024 NBA Finals Post 2023 NBA Draft

The 2023 NBA Draft was an opportunity for all 30 teams to upgrade their rosters with more young and aggressive playmakers. 

The Draft process, a few days before and during, was also a chance for teams to improve their rosters through trades. Teams like the Boston Celtics, the Phoenix Suns, and the Golden State Warriors were highly active in the week heading into the draft by trading role players and potential draft picks for star players. 

This draft week has changed the entire perceptive of the NBA and the chase to win a title, which might be more wide-open than ever after a convincing championship run by the Denver Nuggets. The lines by DraftKings changed significantly for most teams after the 2023 NBA Draft in their odds to win the 2024 NBA Finals.

Boston Celtics - From (+500) to (+475) at DraftKings Sportsbook

Among the team that was the most active through this short off-season and before the 2023 NBA Draft were the Boston Celtics. The Celtics were determined to trade for 7’3 power forward/center Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards in a three-team trade involving the Wizards and the Los Angeles Clippers. After the trade fell apart, the Celtics tried again to trade for Porzingis from Washington, this time involving the Memphis Grizzlies.

This move also gave Boston the 25th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, both from Memphis. The move did cost their starting point guard Marcus Smart, now with the Grizzlies. While losing Smart is tough, the Celtics have one of the dynamic big men in the league in Porzingis, who averaged a career-high 23.2 points, a career-high 2.7 assists and 8.4 rebounds per game this past season. This move gives Boston a star in the paint on both ends of the court.

The Celtics went from having a +500 odds on DraftKings, third in the league, after the 2023 NBA Finals to the best odds in the league at +475. Porzingis’ presence on the court will add a more dynamic set of scoring opportunities throughout the court and a chance to develop more unique plays under a new big three with Porzingis, small forward Jason Tatum and shooting guard Jaylen Brown.

The Celtics were one game away from completing the biggest series comeback in the NBA Playoff history and appearing in their second consecutive NBA Finals, there is no doubt they have the potential to do it again.

Phoenix Suns (+700) at DraftKings Sportsbook

The Phoenix Suns are going all-in for their first NBA title in franchise history. They are so all-in on risking their future that they traded all of their own draft picks until 2031 to win it all now. On June 13th, the Suns traded six second-round picks, 38-year-old starting point guard Chris Paul and their more prominent bench player in shooting guard Landry Shamet for three-time NBA All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards.

The Suns might have some concerns with their depth in the season unless it is taken care of in the remaining off-season. Phoenix now has elite scorers on their team in Beal, small forward/power forward Kevin Durant and shooting guard Devin Booker. Durant averaged 29.1 points (Phoenix and Brooklyn), Booker averaged 27.8 points and Beal averaged 23.2 points last season.

The Suns remain at +700 to win the 2024 NBA Finals title, but they rise from the team with the fourth-highest odds to win the Final behind the Celtics, the defending champions in the Denver Nuggets and the Milwaukee Bucks to third place only behind Boston and Denver. 

San Antonio Spurs - From (+50000) to (+20000) at DraftKings Sportsbook

One of the biggest changes in odds for the 2024 NBA title are the San Antonio Spurs going from +50000 before the 2023 NBA Draft to +20000, according to DraftKings. The idea was that the Spurs improved significantly by drafting center Victor Wembanyama from the French International League play with the first overall pick. San Antonio also drafted small forward Leonard Miller and guard/forward Sidy Cissoko, both from the NBA G League, in the second round.

Wembanyama is one of the most polarizing prospects in the history of the NBA Draft, as he possesses an incredible wingspan, can play at the post, drive to the basket, shoot three-pointers and defend well. The Spurs also got two prospects that played well in the NBA G-League.

The Spurs are a long way from competing for an NBA title, but the leap they took in the odds based solely on the Draft alone shows they are on the right track. San Antonio still has some talented young players from previous drafts and five-time NBA champion head coach Gregg Popovich leading the team.