How Damian Lillard to Bucks trade shakes up 2023-24 NBA championship betting odds

The 2023-24 NBA season is right around the corner with the landscape of the league taking on a new look following some blockbuster moves. 

Damian Lillard's drawn-out trade saga from the Trail Blazers shook up the Eastern Conference, joining forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Bucks. The move saw Milwaukee immediately leapfrog the reigning champion Nuggets for the best odds to win the 2024 Larry O'Brien trophy. 

In the fallout of the deal that sent Lillard to Milwaukee, former Bucks point guard Jrue Holiday found himself out of the Eastern Conference in Portland before being traded to the Celtics. The addition of one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA firmly places Boston alongside Holiday's old team.

“Like the rest of the sports world, the Damian Lillard trade to Milwaukee caught us by surprise and a few quick-fingered punters snapped up the $7 on offer,” TAB Senior Trader Dave Bauk said.

“The Bucks have now firmed into favourites for the NBA championship at $4.50, which has them ahead of the Boston Celtics at $5.50 and the reigning champion Denver Nuggets at $6.”

The Celtics were busy this offseason, first acquiring Kristaps Porzingis in a deal that sent Marcus Smart to Memphis before pulling off a trade to bring in Holiday, significantly shortening their title odds. 

“It means that despite seven of the last 10 NBA champions being from the Western Conference, our top two title favourites are both Eastern Conference teams,” Bauk added. 

“With 14 percent of all bets being for the Boston Celtics, they are the second most popular team with our punters. Only the Golden State Warriors, who have attracted 15 percent of betting and firmed from $15 into $13, have been backed more.”  

With the entire NBA world anticipating Lillard would be moved to his desired destination of Miami, the Heat had come in as short as $11 with TAB. However, after missing out on their main target, Miami's odds have ballooned out to $26.