The Suns roiled the overnight NBA futures markets on reports that they are acquiring Kevin Durant from the Nets.
According to ESPN, Phoenix is sending Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks and a 2028 pick swap to Brooklyn. The picks, in 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029, are unprotected.
"Given the state of the conference I think this rightfully puts Phoenix near the top of the West," said VSiN NBA betting analyst, Jonathan Von Tobel. "Durant fits perfectly with what the Suns want to do on offense, which is running a high volume of Spain pick-and-rolls and working the mid-range area of the floor. Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Durant in one of those sets will be deadly for any defense to deal with."
With Durant joining Devin Booker and Chris Paul, the Suns quickly moved from 18-1 to +450 at DraftKings Sportsbook, which puts them second behind only the Celtics (+350) as favorites to win the NBA title.
"The market is overreacting to this deal, as it usually does, which opens the door for other bets," said Von Tobel. "Golden State at 8-1 or New Orleans at 16-1 is where I would look to place a bet. Those are two teams which have been held back by health, not poor play, but the market has cut their odds due to this move and poor injury luck."
Here’s more from JVT on the trade with Gill Alexander and Kelley Bydlon on A Numbers Game:
Mitch Moss and Pauly Howard also tackled the deal on Thursday’s edition of Follow The Money to give their thoughts.
The NBA trading deadline is Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.
Earlier Wednesday, it was reported that the Lakers are finalizing a deal to acquire Minnesota’s D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt in a three-way trade. Mike Conley and picks go to the Timberwolves and Russell Westbrook and a lightly protected 2027 LA first-round pick move to the Jazz.
The Lakers, who lost out to Dallas in a bid for Kyrie Irving’s services, were +4000 to win the NBA title before the trade, +2800 after the trade – but +5000 after news of the Durant deal hit the internet.
