The biggest NBA trade deadline odds movers, including the Lakers (way up) and Heat (way down)
The most consequential NBA trade deadline is finally over and boy was it a busy one. Not only did we have blockbuster deals involving massive names like Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis and Jimmy Butler, we also had a bunch of much smaller deals.
DEADLINE TRACKER: A roundup of every major deal and grades
Now, that the dust is finally settling, though, we can finally start assessing the landscape for the second half of the season. Which teams set themselves up for a better title push and which took a step back? The movement of each team's odds from last week to post-deadline is a good starting point for answers. Here's a look at some of the bigger movers, with odds from BetMGM.
Riser: Los Angeles Lakers
Movement: +4000 to +1200
The Lakers have top-four title odds after the deadline, making that dramatic rise the instant it was reported they were getting Doncic. The Mark Williams deal didn't do anything but bolster a roster already expected to compete at a high level.
Riser: Golden State Warriors
Movement: +5000 to +4000
The Warriors shot for the Kevin Durants and landed on the Jimmy Butlers, which isn't a terrible consolation prize. They should be improved, though six West teams still hold better odds.
Faller: Dallas Mavericks
Movement: +2000 to +3000
If Doncic is good enough to help the Lakers' odds as much as he did, you knew his departure was going to tank the odds of the team he left, though Dallas didn't fall by too much. With Anthony Davis on board, the Mavs still hold top-10 title odds.
Faller: Miami Heat
Movement: +12500 to +30000
Losing Butler hurt the Heat so much more than losing Doncic hurt the Mavs. That's because Miami didn't return a player close to as good as Anthony Davis for Butler. Instead, they'll have to make due with Andrew Wiggins. At least they're in the East.
Riser: San Antonio Spurs
Movement: +25000 to +15000
Victor Wembanyama has an All-Star caliber running mate now in De'Aaron Fox, and their first game together perfectly illustrated why this team's odds are up. They're still incredibly long, to be sure, and the Spurs have work to do to even make the play-in tournament, but the future is bright.
Riser: Philadelphia 76ers
Movement: +6600 to +5000
Yes, that is a big jump for a 76ers team that was relatively quiet at the deadline aside from parting with a few veterans and picking up Quentin Grimes. But I can assure you Grimes didn't cause that movement. He's a good pickup, but this probably has more to do with Joel Embiid's return to action Tuesday with a 29-point triple-double in a win over the Mavs.
Faller: Sacramento Kings
Movement: +10000 to +30000
Sending Fox to San Antonio is what dipped the Kings' odds, but I have a feeling they won't be dramatically worse than the .500 team they were with him. Sacramento did bring in Zach LaVine, Jonas Valanciunas and Jake LaRavia at the deadline.
Faller: Phoenix Suns
Movement: +4000 to +6000
What a weird deadline it was the for Suns, who went from the most talked about team -- first for trying to acquire Jimmy Butler, then for trying to trade Kevin Durant -- to a team that did nothing to help itself. They did at least get Jusuf Nurkic out of the valley for some rotational pieces that might actually contribute.
Riser: Detroit Pistons
Movement: +7500 to +5000
I'm not sure I really understand Detroit's movement much, as the Pistons only acquired depth pieces in Dennis Schroeder and Lindy Waters III. But I suppose if teams nearby in the standings are all getting worse (like the Heat, Hawks and Bulls), that only makes Detroit a stronger playoff lock.
Riser: Oklahoma City Thunder
Movement: +240 to +225
OKC's movement is the most modest of any team on this list, but it's just as notable considering they were already title favorites alongside the Boston Celtics. With Chet Holmgren on his way back, oddsmakers have to feel even better about this Thunder squad.
Faller: Orlando Magic
Movement: +5000 to +8000
It's hard not to feel like the Magic didn't squander an opportunity here, with how well they were playing earlier in the year and how poorly they've been playing lately. Seems like they could've really helped themselves get back on track. Instead, their odds took a big slide.
Faller: Minnesota Timberwolves
Movement: +4000 to +6000
There was probably a move to be made for the Wolves, but they're mostly just a victim of a couple other West teams getting better. As the No. 7 seed, that just makes their road to the playoffs that much tougher.
Faller: Houston Rockets
Movement: +4000 to +5000
The Rockets were unable to snatch up a big name at the deadline and saw their odds fall behind the Warriors, though a four-game skid certainly hasn't helped. They're still the No. 3 seed in the West but hold just the conference's eighth-best odds.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: The biggest NBA trade deadline odds movers, including the Lakers (way up) and Heat (way down)
