Celtics, Suns, Bucks Emerge as Favorites for Inaugural Mid-Season Tournament

The Boston Celtics open as the favorites to win the NBA Cup, which marks the first-ever in-season tournament in the NBA. Is placing a bet on the Celtics the wisest choice, or should we explore other options in this futures market?Here are the 2024 NBA Cup odds from our best sports betting apps.

I keep hearing people say that the teams and players won't care about the NBA Cup. But hey, think back to your high school days - did you go all out to win every tournament you competed in, or were you solely focused on winning your league championship?

The idea that the players and coaches won't care seems a bit silly to me. Personally, I'm super thrilled about the addition of this in-season tournament because it means one more futures market for us bettors to get invested in. I mean, who doesn't love more opportunities to bet, right?

So, let's dive right into the initial odds board for the 2024 NBA Cup, courtesy of our best NBA betting sites.

NBA Cup odds 2024

NBA Cup odds analysis

One notable aspect when looking at the opening odds for the NBA Cup is how closely packed all the teams are on the oddsboard, in contrast to the NBA Finals futures market. This is primarily due to the unpredictability inherent in a single-game knockout round. Additionally, there's a strong narrative suggesting that several top teams may not prioritize winning the NBA Cup, and this sentiment is also being felt in the odds.

NBA Cup odds movement

Currently, the odds for the NBA Cup are only available at Caesars, as they're the sole sportsbook to have posted them. Since they have recently opened, there has been no market activity or odds movement thus far. However, once more of our best sports betting sites release their opening odds for this market, we can anticipate some movement and adjustments from Caesars.

NBA Cup odds 2024: Favorite

Boston Celtics (+750 via Caesars)

The Celtics are the favorites to win the NBA Finals, so it's no surprise that they're also favored to win the NBA Cup. However, there's a difference in pricing between the Celtics' odds for the NBA Cup and the NBA Finals. This is because the in-season tournament follows a single-game knockout format after the group play, rather than the traditional best-of-seven series. This setup introduces more unpredictability and variation into the mix.

Another interesting aspect to consider is how much importance a team like the Celtics would place on winning this tournament. The Celtics are trading at around +450 to win the NBA Finals, but their odds increase to +750 for the NBA Cup.

NBA Cup odds 2024: Contender

Cleveland Cavaliers (+1100 via Caesars)

I'm throwing the Cavaliers into the contender spot because I believe there's a narrative at play suggesting that teams like the Cavaliers will place a higher value on winning the NBA Cup compared to some of the other favorites for the NBA Finals.

With stars like Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley, the Cavaliers have a talented roster capable of winning the NBA Cup. The single-game knockout format would actually work in their favor, rather than facing the Celtics in a best-of-seven series. Honestly, in a single-game knockout game, anything can happen in the NBA.

The initial market reaction is likely to focus on teams like the Cavaliers, but it's important to consider that this perspective has already been priced into the odds. The Cavaliers are sitting at around +3000 to win the NBA Finals, while their odds for winning the NBA Cup are trading at +1100.

NBA Cup odds 2024: Long shot

Oklahoma City Thunder (+2000 via Caesars)

At a +2000 price point, it may not seem like a long-shot bet, but in this market, there aren't any true long-shot options available. Even teams like the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons are only listed at +8000 to win the NBA Cup. This is because the single-game knockout bracket introduces unpredictability, much like the March Madness tournament.

During this offseason, there's been an appetite in the betting markets to support the Thunder as a long-shot bet to win the NBA Finals in the upcoming season. While achieving such a feat might be premature in the Thunder's timeline, winning the NBA Cup would be a significant accomplishment for this organization to build upon, given their young core. It's also a more realistic goal for this group to achieve.

The difference between winning three consecutive games in the knockout round versus winning multiple best-of-seven series against teams like the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns is substantial. The Thunder are more than just a team with potential; they possess a bona fide superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was recently named First Team All-NBA.

NBA Cup odds 2024: Fade

Phoenix Suns (+1000 via Caesars)

The Suns find themselves near the top of the oddsboard, right behind the Celtics, trading at +1000 to win the NBA Cup. While the Suns boast an exceptional trio of superstar players in Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal, I'm uncertain if the NBA Cup aligns with their timeline. Building chemistry among players takes time, and the NBA Cup is scheduled for November and December, which is very early in the season.

I believe the in-season tournament will favor teams that already have established continuity, rather than those with a brand new head coach and numerous new faces on the roster. I have no concerns with the Suns being considered top contenders for the NBA Finals, but when it comes to the NBA Cup, I would be skeptical of their +1000 odds and prefer to fade their chances.

NBA Cup FAQs

Who won the NBA Cup last year?

This year represents a significant milestone as the NBA introduces the inaugural NBA Cup, marking the first-ever in-season tournament in the history of the league.

When will the NBA Cup be decided?

The group stage of the NBA Cup will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the month of November. Following the group stage, the tournament will move into the knockout round, featuring eight teams. The Final Four teams will then advance to Las Vegas, where they'll compete in the semi-finals on December 7th. Finally, the ultimate showdown, the Final, will occur on December 9th in Las Vegas.

Here are our best NBA betting sites:

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