NBA trade deadline betting impact: Heat's title odds shorten to 20-1
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The NBA trade deadline didn't drastically reshape the title picture. The only former All-NBA player moved Thursday was 31-year-old Isaiah Thomas, but he'll likely be waived, and eight of the 12 top teams by record didn't make a move.
It felt like a trade deadline without clear winners or losers, but oddsmakers disagreed, adjusting the prices of eight teams, including seven contenders. Here is a list of every club's title odds before and after the trade deadline, with a breakdown of the teams that saw the biggest adjustments:
| TEAM | AFTER | BEFORE |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | +225 | 2-1 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +275 | 3-1 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 3-1 | 3-1 |
| Houston Rockets | 12-1 | 14-1 |
| Miami Heat | 20-1 | 30-1 |
| Boston Celtics | 25-1 | 20-1 |
| Denver Nuggets | 30-1 | 30-1 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 30-1 | 25-1 |
| Toronto Raptors | 30-1 | 30-1 |
| Utah Jazz | 30-1 | 30-1 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 40-1 | 40-1 |
| Indiana Pacers | 100-1 | 80-1 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 100-1 | 100-1 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 100-1 | 100-1 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 300-1 | 300-1 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 300-1 | 300-1 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 1000-1 | 1000-1 |
| Orlando Magic | 1000-1 | 1000-1 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 1000-1 | 1000-1 |
| Chicago Bulls | 2000-1 | 2000-1 |
| Detroit Pistons | 2000-1 | 2000-1 |
| Phoenix Suns | 2000-1 | 2000-1 |
| Sacramento Kings | 2000-1 | 2000-1 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 10000-1 | 10000-1 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 10000-1 | 10000-1 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 10000-1 | 10000-1 |
| Golden State Warriors | 10000-1 | 10000-1 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 10000-1 | 2000-1 |
| New York Knicks | 10000-1 | 10000-1 |
| Washington Wizards | 10000-1 | 10000-1 |
Trending up
Miami Heat (30-1 to 20-1)
There is no question in bookmakers' minds that the Heat "won" the deadline after flipping three seldom-used players for Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder, and Solomon Hill. There are real questions about how much those three have left in the tank, but they all fit well in Miami's rangy defense. Is it worth such a big price adjustment? Probably not. But the Heat were worth buying even before this deal, so there's still value at 20-1 if you aren't sold on Milwaukee surviving a playoff run.
Houston Rockets (14-1 to 12-1)
Are we sure these odds moved in the right direction? The Rockets essentially swapped Clint Capela for Robert Covington, which should help their shooting and switching defense in the playoffs but could become a major issue against big-heavy teams like the Lakers and Nuggets. Houston's center is now the 6-foot-5 P.J. Tucker, which sounds nice against the Jazz and Thunder but likely won't be enough to beat three Western Conference contenders in the postseason. Stay away from the 12-1 price.
Milwaukee Bucks (3-1 to +275)
The Bucks saw a minor price adjustment despite not making a deadline deal. Neither did Toronto, Boston, or Indiana, which are all threats to upend the East's top seed in the playoffs. It's hard to say Milwaukee needed to make a move after a 44-7 start to the year, but if you weren't buying at 3-1, there's no need to suddenly sniff this price. How Giannis Antetokounmpo handles playoff defenses will still determine this team's fate.
Trending down
Los Angeles Lakers (2-1 to +225)
The Lakers have had their issues this year, but the formula is clear: feed Anthony Davis in the half court and let LeBron James do the rest. That's been good enough for the best record in the West. Oddsmakers docked L.A. for sitting out the deadline, but the Lakers' complementary pieces have exceeded expectations. Their stars' play as of late should assuage concerns about them not adding a rotation piece Thursday.
Boston Celtics (20-1 to 25-1)
The Celtics were expected to be active during the deadline, but they stood pat despite significant holes in their frontcourt. It makes sense from a roster-building standpoint - most available centers carried salary baggage - but a lack of rim protection could be an issue against Milwaukee or Toronto in the playoffs.
Philadelphia 76ers (25-1 to 30-1)
This price adjustment might not have been enough. The 76ers have serious fit issues that we could have all predicted: They can't shoot, they lack a secondary playmaker, and their bigs just don't mesh. Adding tertiary shooters at the deadline isn't enough to pounce on the Sixers' title odds.
C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.