Following on the back of some huge trades, the betting to win the Western Conference has a new favorite, with the Phoenix Suns now leading the way. The big name trades involving Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant – in particular – have resulted in seismic shifts in the overall NBA betting odds. Here we take a closer look with our NBA futures.
It’s almost laughable the impact the trade of Kevin Durant has had on the Western Conference. The Suns have been okay this season and haven’t done anything out of the ordinary. Durant has also been out injured since January 8th, and yet just based on that one trade, the Suns are now the favorites to win the conference.
Just a few short weeks ago, it was the Golden State Warriors leading the betting markets. Back in December 2022, the Warriors were the +375 favorites, with the LA Clippers closely behind at+400. The Suns were in the running, but as the third favorites at +500.
Now the Suns lead the way at +225, with the Nuggets next at +375. The Clippers are still hanging in there as the third favorites at +600. With the Mavericks, Warriors, and Grizzlies all at +800.
Below is our odds table where you can find more odds from the best NBA betting sites to win the Western Conference. More details about these betting sites can be found on our best online sportsbook reviews page.
| Betting to Win 2023 NBA Western Conference |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Suns | +225 | +210 | +225 |
| Denver Nuggets | +375 | +350 | +375 |
| LA Clippers | +600 | +650 | +600 |
| Golden State Warriors | +800 | +800 | +750 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +800 | +700 | +700 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +800 | +750 | +750 |
The February trades have certainly shook things up, that’s for sure. When Durant talked about leaving the Nets in the close season, it was the Suns he was hoping to go to. And now he has his wish.
So, alongside Devin Booker and Chris Paul, the Suns now have a side that looks equipped to go the distance in the postseason. And this was instantly reflected in the betting, with the best NBA betting sites making Monty Williams’ team their second favorites behind the Celtics in the betting to win the 2023 NBA Championship.
In the Eastern Conference the pathway is now clearer for the Boston Celtics to make it to their second successive NBA finals. The trades of Durant and Irving have eased the route to the conference finals for Joe Mazzulla’s team. And with Jayson Tatum in the form he has been this season, the Celtics are now looking even stronger to win the conference.
The Celtics are still the favorites to win the NBA Championship. The best betting sites have Boston at +350, consolidating the position they’ve held with the best sportsbooks for some time now. The Suns are next at +450, and then we have the Bucks at +650, and the Nuggets at +800.
The Milwaukee Bucks have been on a great run of form lately, and are showing little sign of slowing down. For all the attention the Celtics get in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks are neck and neck with the Celtics at the top of the conference table.
The Bucks may have won their last 14 matches, but the top rated betting sites still aren’t convinced they can maintain their current form and take it into the postseason. Either that, or the sportsbooks think if the Bucks do maintain their form, they still won’t have enough to beat the Celtics in the conference finals.
Right, onto our NBA betting picks. The sportsbooks now seem to think it’s between the Celtics, Suns, Bucks, and Nuggets. All four are pulling away from the Clippers and the 76ers in the betting. But with four shorter priced teams, it’s now getting harder to find value.
The Bucks run will come to an end soon. But they won the NBA Championship as recently as 2021, against the Suns, ironically. Would it be a shock to see a repeat of that match up this year? No, it most certainly would not be.
In Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have a match winner, and in Kevin Durrant, the Suns have the same. The Suns’ other main weapons, namely Devin Booker and Chris Paul, will now have less pressure to bear since the arrival of Durrant, and is another reason why this trade is so dangerous for the rest of the NBA.
We think the Bucks and the Suns could well go all the way again this year and have a repeat of 2021. If you prefer to back both and hedge your bets, then that would work with the Suns at +450 and the Bucks at +650. But if you want to pick just one, then we would now have to go for the Suns. The trade of Durant simply looks like a game changer.
About the Author
Over the last 10 years, Dean has sharpened his expertise in crafting and revising content for his soccer and cricket betting platforms. Driven by his passion for sports betting and writing, he embarked on a journey of writing about sports wagering. Although Dean's preferred areas of focus are the English Premier League and cricket, his extensive sports knowledge enables him to tackle nearly any sport. Gone are the days of traveling the world to witness events like FIFA World Cups and Ashes cricket, as Dean now prefers the comfort of his own home while enjoying sports.
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