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Ranking NBA Title Contenders After the Trade Deadline

Jeff Pratt ranks the top NBA contenders after one of the busiest trade deadlines in league history.

By Jeff_Pratt
LA Clippers v Boston Celtics Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone!

Some teams made massive moves, and others upgraded around the edges. In this article, I will be ranking the top title contenders as of now, while also highlighting their DraftKings Sportsbook odds movement pre/post-trade deadline.

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No. 5: Philadelphia 76ers

Odds to win the NBA Finals pre-trade deadline: +900

Odds to win the NBA Finals post-trade deadline: +950

Philadelphia 76ers v Boston Celtics Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images

All hopes of Philly finally breaking through and winning it all lie with this man. Joel Embiid has re-inserted himself into the MVP race after a ridiculous recent stretch of play. The star big man is averaging a career-high 33.3 points per game, along with 10.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

The 76ers have jumped to the No. 3 seed in the East at the time of this article’s publication. While they didn’t make a huge move at the deadline, the team did acquire Jalen McDaniels from Charlotte and earned one of our highest trade grades of the day.

McDaniels is a sizable upgrade over Montrezl Harrell, and should step into a significant role immediately due to his versatility.

The 76ers certainly deserve a spot in the top 5, but I can’t justify putting them over any of the other contenders due to their consistent postseason failure.

Maybe this year, things will change.

No. 4: Denver Nuggets

Odds to win the NBA Finals pre-trade deadline: +700

Odds to win the NBA Finals post-trade deadline: +800

Atlanta Hawks v Denver Nuggets Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images

The Nuggets’ odds to win the championship dropped after the trade deadline, but that has more to do with moves other Western Conference teams made.

I’m split on Denver’s deadline transactions. The rift between Bones Hyland and Michael Malone was apparent, but giving him up for only two second-round picks when players like Jae Crowder went for FIVE feels like a missed opportunity on Denver’s part.

As you can see, I didn’t like that move for the Nuggets. However, I was a fan of the other trade they made to bring in Thomas Bryant.

Bryant is a clear upgrade over Zeke Nnaji as a backup center, and his offensive abilities should bolster Malone’s bench. It’s also fair to assume Denver will make a push for one of the many viable point guards on the buyout market over the coming weeks.

The Nuggets currently boast the best record in the West for a reason, and they should be respected as a legitimate threat to win it all.

No. 3: Milwaukee Bucks

Odds to win the NBA Finals pre-trade deadline: +650

Odds to win the NBA Finals post-trade deadline: +600

Milwaukee Bucks v Los Angeles Lakers Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

The Bucks’ odds to win the title improved after the deadline, but similar to the Nuggets, that movement was more about trades other teams made than Milwaukee’s own additions.

The Bucks did make one solid acquisition, bringing in Jae Crowder. We always knew this was the likely landing spot for Crowder, although I believe it was an overpay to get him.

With Kevin Durant out of the East and the Nets no longer a threat, Milwaukee has one fewer competitor to reach the NBA Finals. However, Boston, Philadelphia, and even Cleveland could give them trouble in the playoffs.

That being said, Giannis and the Bucks have championship experience and have picked up their play significant as of late, earning them a top-three spot on this list.

No. 2: Phoenix Suns

Odds to win the NBA Finals pre-trade deadline: +1800

Odds to win the NBA Finals post-trade deadline: +425

Los Angeles Lakers v Brooklyn Nets Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Phoenix is all-in, as shown by the drastic DraftKings Sportsbook odds movement after acquiring Kevin Durant. The Suns may have mortgaged their future by giving up Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and four unprotected first-round picks, but that’s a problem for the future.

As of now, the Suns are certainly one of the top title contenders, and there’s a legitimate case for them to be the favorite. A trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Chris Paul is formidable, likely giving Phoenix the most talented roster in the West.

That being said, all three of those stars are injury prone, and the Suns were not playing good basketball prior to this trade. It will be interesting to see if Durant can right the ship immediately, or if he’ll take some time to get up to speed in a new system.

No. 1: Boston Celtics

Odds to win the NBA Finals pre-trade deadline: +330

Odds to win the NBA Finals post-trade deadline: +350

Phoenix Suns v Boston Celtics Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

The Celtics didn’t make a major splash at the trade deadline, but they didn’t really have to.

Boston boasts the best record in the NBA, and there are very few holes in the roster Brad Stevens has assembled. Stevens did add another solid frontcourt depth piece in Mike Muscala, who provides elite spacing capabilities.

The Celtics are also expected to add another wing on the buyout market, with players like Will Barton, Danny Green and Terrence Ross linked as potential options. In reality, what Boston needs more than anything is a healthy roster. Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Rob Williams and Al Horford have all dealt with various injuries over the course of the season.

If the Celtics can stay reasonably healthy, they deserve to be favorites heading into the playoffs.

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