NBA win totals 1st look: Analysis on all 30 teams

Amid the driest month of the NBA calendar, oddsmakers have posted win totals for every team except the Blazers for the season ahead.

Damian Lillard remains in Portland well over a month after his trade request. It's unclear whether that'll still be the case at the start of the season, so there's no market up for the team's win total.

Let's break down the rest of the win totals.

NBA win totals

Nuggets: 54.5 wins

After an impressive Finals run, oddsmakers are backing the Nuggets to improve on their 53-win regular-season showing. Denver hasn't won over 54 games in a season since it drafted Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets will be a popular bet to repeat as champs with their core intact. If you believe in early-season championship hangovers - Mike Malone may still be hungover from the parade - stay away from this win total.

Celtics: 53.5 wins

The Celtics won 57 games last season and earned the 2-seed. Oddsmakers expect a slight regression despite the addition of Kristaps Porzingis. The departures of Grant Williams and Marcus Smart hurt Boston's depth.

Bucks: 52.5 wins

Before an upset loss to the Heat in the first round of the playoffs, the Bucks led the entire NBA with 58 wins. The team dismissed coach Mike Budenholzer and is getting older with Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez all returning to surround Giannis Antetokounmpo. The priority is the playoffs, not the regular season, which could lead to more rest for this aging group.

Suns: 51.5 wins

The Suns are the only team in the league with a legitimate Big Three in Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. The problem is both Beal and Durant are plagued by injuries. The former played just 90 games over the past two seasons, while the latter played 102. There's little depth behind the Suns' superstars.

Cavaliers: 49.5 wins

The clock is ticking for the Cavs to become true contenders before Donovan Mitchell can become a free agent in the summer of 2025. After a 51-win season last year, Cleveland is running it back, hoping Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen all take another leap. The Cavs did add depth in free agency by signing Max Strus and Georges Niang.

Sixers: 49.5 wins

The Sixers won 54 games last season, their most in a regular season since 2001. However, Philadelphia has more questions than answers heading into this season with James Harden's trade request casting a dark cloud over the franchise.

Warriors: 49.5 wins

The Warriors' 2022-23 season was destined for chaos the second Draymond Green connected a right hook with Jordan Poole's jaw. Poole is now gone, but the Warriors' core three is still around. With the addition of Chris Paul, they'll hope for one more championship run.

Heat: 48.5 wins

Miami's improbable run to the NBA Finals as an 8-seed was a great story but masked some of the flaws it had during the regular season. The Heat lost Strus and Gabe Vincent, two integral parts of the Finals run. Miami desperately needs to trade for Lillard - which appears to be a matter of when, not if - and is likely factored into this win total.

Lakers: 48.5 wins

The Lakers only won 43 games last year and made the Western Conference Finals as the seventh seed. They started the season 2-10. The Lakers are bringing back Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and D'Angelo Russell. They also signed Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, and Cam Reddish. The Lakers' season, though, hinges on the health of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Clippers: 46.5 wins

The Clippers, while supremely talented, can't stay healthy. Superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have played in 52% and 61% of their regular-season games over the last four seasons, respectively. Coach Ty Lue recently said he's talked with Leonard and George about taking the regular season more seriously. We'll find out whether that leads to more wins.

Mavericks: 45.5 wins

The Mavericks expect the Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving pairing to produce more positive results throughout an entire season than it did in only 16 games last season. After a disastrous 38-win campaign, the future looks brighter for Dallas, especially with the addition of Williams.

Grizzlies: 45.5 wins

Ja Morant is suspended for the first 25 games of the season, which is why this win total is lower than Memphis' 51 wins last season. However, over the last two seasons, the Grizzlies are 31-15 without Morant in the lineup. While Memphis lost Dillon Brooks, it added Smart, who should help the team with his maturity and experience.

Knicks: 44.5 wins

The Knicks won 47 games last season and hope to replicate their success with an almost identical roster. Acquiring Donte DiVincenzo in free agency should add much-needed wing-scoring depth.

Kings: 43.5 wins

The market is expecting regression for a young Kings team that won 48 games last season and earned the No. 3 seed in the West. Sacramento brought its entire core back to take another step in its journey to contention.

Pelicans: 43.5 wins

Zion Williamson's health will determine the Pelicans' potential. In the 53 games he missed last season, they won 25. Brandon Ingram and C.J. McCollum led the way throughout.

Timberwolves: 43.5 wins

It's becoming an offseason tradition to determine what's more questionable: The Timberwolves' head-scratching moves or Karl Anthony-Towns' delusional comments? The Rudy Gobert trade in 2022 proved to be a foolish move. Playing him, Towns, and newly re-signed Naz Reid together would be equally silly.

Thunder: 43.5 wins

After a surprisingly successful 40-win season, the Thunder return an exciting young core, including All-NBA first-team guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Adding Chet Holmgren to the fold should allow Oklahoma City to make noise in the West.

Hawks: 42.5 wins

The Hawks have won between 41 and 43 games in the last three seasons, so this win total makes sense. Rumors circulated about Atlanta making a big splash this offseason, but that never happened. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray are a threatening backcourt duo, although there isn't much else on a mediocre roster.

Pacers: 37.5 wins

The Pacers won 35 games last year. With virtually the same roster, oddsmakers expect a slight increase in wins. This team is as average as any in the NBA.

Nets: 37.5 wins

In the embarrassing aftermath of the catastrophic Durant-Irving-Harden era, the Nets are in reload mode. They do have budding superstar Mikal Bridges and a solid supporting cast of young pieces.

Bulls: 37.5 wins

It's clear to seemingly everyone except the Bulls' front office that the trio of DeMar DeRozan, Zach Lavine, and Nikola Vucevic doesn't work. That didn't stop Chicago from signing Vucevic to a three-year, $60-million deal this summer. The Bulls will have to blow it up sooner rather than later.

Magic: 36.5 wins

The Magic have exciting pieces. If they can eclipse 37 wins, the season should be considered a success and a sign they're building toward something.

Raptors: 36.5 wins

The Raptors' future is murky with the departure of Fred VanVleet and the pending free agency of Pascal Siakam. This team will be lucky to sneak into the play-in tournament.

Jazz: 35.5 wins

When the Jazz shipped out Mitchell and Gobert for a plethora of picks last summer, most people expected a lackluster season. Instead, Utah shocked the league en route to 37 wins behind stellar play from Lauri Markkanen, who won Most Improved Player of the Year. The Jazz are still building for the future, though, and a lapse is probably coming.

Rockets: 31.5 wins

The Rockets won 22 games last year, tied for the second-worst record in the league. A 10-game jump may seem difficult, but Houston signed VanVleet and Brooks, drafted Amen Thompson, and hired Ime Udoka as head coach. With those additions, plus the expected jumps from Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr., the Rockets can surpass 32 wins and even compete for a play-in spot.

Hornets: 31.5 wins

A healthy LaMelo Ball, the re-addition of Miles Bridges, and the insertion of rookie Brandon Miller could give the Hornets some hope after a forgettable 27-win season.

Spurs: 29.5 wins

The market isn't buying the Victor Wembanyama hype - at least not immediately. It'll take time for him to develop in the NBA, and although the Spurs have young players around him, the roster is still substandard.

Pistons: 27.5 wins

The Pistons hired Monty Williams to develop their solid young core, but after a 17-win season, it'll take time for Detroit to seriously compete.

Wizards: 24.5 wins

The Wizards traded Beal and Porzingis, an indication they're entering a complete rebuild. They have talented players in Poole and Kyle Kuzma, but that's about it. Oddsmakers expect them to be the worst team in the league, and I do, too.

Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter @soshtry for more betting coverage.