Without the promise of Dwight Howard, the Nets' title odds have dropped to 30/1.
US PRESSWIRE
The Brooklyn Nets signed a young talented center to a four-year deal but it wasn’t the one Las Vegas oddsmakers had in mind.
Brooklyn is out of the running to trade for Orlando Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard, at least until the middle of next season, and bookmakers responded by upping the team’s odds to win the title from 10/1 to 30/1.
It’s not all bad Brooklyn fans. The Las Vegas Hotel and Casino originally opened your team at 200/1 to win the championship in 2013. But with Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace in the fold, the Nets are now a contender in the Eastern Conference.
Brooklyn wasn’t the only squad to see its title odds move around. Oddsmakers are changing the odds on a daily basis thanks to a busy NBA offseason. The Los Angeles Lakers, for instance, opened at 12/1 to win the title but are 8/1 after bringing point guard Steve Nash aboard.
Here’s a look at the teams whose odds have been lowered or increased since the end of June:
Improved in the eyes of Vegas:
Miami Heat: Open 5/2, Current 2/1
Los Angeles Lakers: Open 12/1, Current 8/1
Los Angeles Clippers: Open 30/1, Current 15/1
Memphis Grizzlies: Open 30/1, Current 25/1
Brooklyn Nets: Open 200/1, Current 30/1
New York Knicks: Open 60/1, Current 40/1
Utah Jazz: Open 100/1, Current 75/1
Minnesota Timberwolves: Open 100/1, Current 75/1
Houston Rockets: Open 100/1, Current 75/1
Toronto Raptors: Open 1000/1, Current 500/1
Weakened in the eyes of Vegas:
Oklahoma City Thunder: Open 5/2, Current 3/1
Chicago Bulls: Open 5/1, Current 10/1
San Antonio Spurs: Open 7/1, Current 10/1
Dallas Mavericks: Open 15/1, Current 25/1
Orlando Magic: Open 30/1, Current 50/1
Atlanta Hawks: Open 60/1, Current 75/1
No better, no worse (teams with title odds holding steady):
Boston Celtics: 20/1
Indiana Pacers: 20/1
Denver Nuggets: 30/1
Milwaukee Bucks: 100/1
Portland Trail Blazers: 100/1
Golden State Warriors: 100/1
New Orleans Hornets: 100/1
Sacramento Kings: 200/1
Phoenix Suns: 200/1
Cleveland Cavaliers: 200/1
Washington Wizards: 200/1
Detroit Pistons: 300/1
Charlotte Bobcats: 1000/1
Odds courtesy of the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.