Damian Lillard Trade Details And 2023-24 NBA Title Odds Update
Following several weeks of speculation, Damian Lillard has officially been traded. However, it wasn’t to the team that everyone and oddsmakers expected. Lillard is packing his bags for Milwaukee to team with Giannis Antetokounmpo in a Bucks uniform.
On Wednesday afternoon, Lillard was the centerpiece of a three-team trade involving Milwaukee, Portland Trailblazers, and the Phoenix Suns. Since the trade was announced, the 2024 NBA Championship odds have been greatly impacted.
The Trail Blazers acquired Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumari Camara, a first-round pick in 2029, and Bucks’ pick swaps in 2029 and 2030. In Phoenix, the Suns get Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, Keon Johnson, and Grayson Allen.
The Bucks were not a front-runner to trade for Lillard until moments before the deal was announced. The Heat were the odds-on favorites since Lillard announced he wanted a trade in early July.
If not the Heat, the Toronto Raptors were favored to land Lillard earlier this week. The Bucks were behind Eastern Conference rivals in the odds to trade for Lillard. Along with the Raptors, the Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers had better odds to acquire Lillard at NBA betting sites.
The following Bucks’ 2024 NBA Championship betting odds are courtesy of BetUS:
The Bucks’ NBA odds for the 2023-24 season instantly witnessed a significant change. Before the Lillard trade, the Bucks had the fourth-best odds of winning the 2024 NBA Championship.
Following the trade, the Bucks are now the team to beat, according to BetUS. The Bucks are favored to win the NBA title at +450 odds. They jumped the Suns (+600), Celtics (+550), and Nuggets (+500) to become the favorites in 2023-24.
Moments after winning the 2022-23 NBA title, the Nuggets opened as a +550 favorite to repeat this season. While their NBA Championship odds have slid up slightly, they no longer have the best odds to win back-to-back championships.
Additionally, the Bucks’ 2024 Eastern Conference title odds have shifted from +300 to +200, to overtake the Celtics. Boston has dropped to +250, while the 76ers are well behind to win the Eastern Conference at +700.
One of the biggest losers of the Lillard trade were the Heat. Miami’s 2024 NBA title odds cratered from +800 to +2500 at BetUS. Also, the Heat are a longshot to win the Eastern Conference at +1200.
The implications of acquiring Lillard are monumental for the Bucks. Adding Lillard to the floor provides the Bucks with a legitimate first and second option on the floor.
Antetokounmpo has not played with an elite point guard in his career, and now the Bucks have one of the best in the league, with no offense to Jrue Holiday. The 33-year-old Holiday is still one of the better point guards in the NBA, but he is not of Lillard’s caliber.
Lillard is a first-tier point guard, while Holiday slots in comfortably behind in the second-tier. Holiday’s perimeter defense will be missed, though Lillard is an undisputed offensive upgrade. The Bucks will not have to concern themselves with Holiday’s disappearing act on offense in the playoffs any longer.
Holiday appeared overwhelmed after he was asked to become more of a focal point of the backcourt offensively following Khris Middleton’s injury. With Lillard, the Bucks get one of the best pure shooters in the league.
He might be 33, but the former Blazer is coming off one of the most productive seasons of his 11-year career. Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 assists, and 7.3 assists per game. The seven-time NBA All-Star recorded a career-high in scoring and tied a previous high in FG% at 46.3 percent.
On the surface, parting with Holiday and Allen is a small price to pay for Lillard’s services. Did they sacrifice their backcourt defense, however? Allen and Holiday were both important pieces of the Bucks’ defense in 2022-23.
NBA betting markets have certainly reacted favorably to the big trade news. Despite losing some defense with Allen and Holiday, they will still have defense in the paint. The offense will improve considerably, so it should be a net positive trade-off.
We don’t oppose betting on the Bucks to win the 2024 NBA Championship. With this roster, they are the clear team to beat in the Eastern Conference. If Middleton can remain healthy, and Pat Conaughton elevates his game, the Bucks have an incredibly potent starting five.
Wait until the Lillard trade hype dies down, and you might be able to grab a better price than +450. However, if you are eager to wager on the Bucks to win the 2023-24 title then click on button below.
The following Suns’ 2024 NBA Championship betting odds are courtesy of BetUS:
The Suns’ opening 2024 NBA Championship odds were +1000. Following the Bradley Beal trade, the Suns jumped to +600. Since then, the Suns’ title odds regressed to +700, but now they are back up to +600.
Suns’ fans likely aren’t thrilled with the details of this trade. We suppose that they were under the assumption that Deandre Ayton had more trade value. The Suns didn’t have the most leverage with Ayton wanting out of Phoenix.
The Suns simply wanted to send the displeased Ayton packing. Ayton’s relationship with the Suns was at an all-time low this past season.
He did not appear happy to be in Phoenix, and the organization is probably better off with Ayton’s soured attitude gone from the locker room. This may be addition by subtraction.
The 2024 NBA Championship markets seemingly agree at sports betting sites. The Suns have better odds to win the title than they did prior to the blockbuster trade.
The Suns did not leave the bargaining table empty-handed. If Jusuf Nurkic can stay healthy, and that’s a big if, the Suns are in good shape at center after losing Ayton.
Nurkic has played 52, 56, 37, and eight games in the last four seasons. He has been the victim of bad luck on the injury front for much of his career.
However, when Nurkic is healthy, the Bosnian Beast is an impactful player on both ends of the floor. Last season, Nurkic averaged 13.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.
Nurkic’s positive energy should be refreshing as opposed to Ayton in 2022-23. Unfortunately, Nurkic does not come with the best contract in basketball as he has over $54 million left in his remaining three years on his deal. He is expensive for an injury-prone center.
Allen’s addition to the team is an underrated move for the Suns. The 27-year-old former Duke Blue Devil is a high-energy defender who can present mismatches on the defensive end. As well, Allen’s catch-and-shoot ability should be valuable for this team.
In his fifth season in the NBA, Allen notched 10.4 points per game on 44 percent shooting. He’s almost automatic from the charity stripe, with a 90.5 percent free throw percentage. Also, Allen can hit from beyond the arc; he shot 40 percent from three, in 2023-24.
Suns fans may not be in love with this trade, but they are well-positioned to go on a run this season regardless. The Suns removed an unhappy player from the locker room while beefing up their depth.
Following the deal, we believe the Suns are a better team than they were on Tuesday. Their 2024 NBA Championship odds movement from +700 to +600 appear justified.
The following Trail Blazers’ 2024 NBA Championship betting odds are courtesy of BetUS:
The Trail Blazers ended long-term relationships with Lillard and Nurkic in the trade. Lillard spent the first 11 years of his career in Portland. Nurkic has been with the Trail Blazers since the Nuggets traded him to Portland in 2017. Dumping salary was their main goal.
In return, the Trail Blazers acquired Holiday and Ayton. Additionally, they bring in the 59th overall selection in the 2023 NBA Draft, Camara, and a first-round draft pick in 2029.
The Trail Blazers’ moves did nothing to improve their NBA Championship odds. That was to be expected, though, as the Trail Blazers are not in win-now mode. Their 2024 NBA title odds were +15000 before the trade and +15000 after the trade.
The Trail Blazers are looking towards the future and not the 2023-24 season. The Scoot Henderson era officially begins in Portland.
The 2023-24 season will be for learning and developing a rapport for the future. The Trail Blazers have been interested in Ayton in the past. Now that they finally have him, Ayton and Henderson can get comfortable with one another.
If all goes according to plan, the third overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft will pair well with Ayton on the pick-and-roll. Ayton is only 25 years old. Also, he and Jerami Grant should combine to be a fairly underrated frontcourt this season.
Holiday, 33, gives the Trail Blazers a hustle player on the perimeter defensively. However, his age doesn’t make him as attractive as Ayton for the future. There is a strong possibility that he is flipped for younger assets before the season starts or at the trade deadline.
Holiday is entering the third season of a four-year $135 million contract, with a player option, in 2024-25, which he is unlikely to opt out of at $37 million.
The best use case for Holiday is being a teacher and leader for Henderson on and off the court. The 19-year-old rookie will be learning from one of the best defensive guards in the NBA. However, there is a chance that Holiday gets traded to a contender while Portland continues their rebuild.
There aren’t many expectations for the Trail Blazers this season. We want to see them progress and show improvement from the start to the end of the year.
With what is likely another top draft pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Trail Blazers should be more competitive in two to three years.
