The February 23 NBA trade deadline is looming and the futures odds are likely to fluctuate heavily depending on what happens. Now is the time to study the rumour mill and figure out which teams are likely to bolster their ranks before the deadline and get a good price on them before the odds tumble.
Western Conference
The Golden State Warriors have been the best team in the NBA once again this season, but they are not guaranteed to win it. Only three times in the last 17 seasons have the number one seeds in both the Western and Eastern Conferences met in the finals, so history suggests either the Warriors or the Cleveland Cavaliers are likely to miss out. Right now the Cavs are wildly inconsistent and look the most likely to stumble, but the Warriors face tough competition in their Conference. They are just 2/7 to win it with Bet365, and 6/17 with 888 Sport, which does not offer a great deal of value. The 5/1 on offer at Sky Bet on the San Antonio Spurs looks tempting as they have been the NBA’s second best team this season, better than the Cavs, and have a very strong defence, which could trouble the Warriors. The Houston Rockets (16/1 at Ladbrokes) and Oklahoma City Thunder (66/1 at Sky Bet) will be dangerous as they are led by MVP frontrunners James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
But arguably the most interesting long shot right now is the LA Clippers. That sounds like madness as they are 4-6 in their last 10 and well below the Warriors. But now could be a great time to get on them. They have struggled in the absence of Chris Paul, but he will be back after the All-Star Game. They are also expected to be buyers before the deadline. So you would imagine their odds would tumble after Paul returns and their ranks are swelled via trades in time for the playoffs, so now is the time to get on them. They are as low as 11/1 with some bookmakers, but William Hill and Ladbrokes are offering a very generous 20/1.
Eastern Conference
This looks really interesting thanks to the Cavs’ inconsistency. The Eastern Conference leaders would only be fourth in the Western Conference with their .698 record, below the Warriors, Spurs and Rockets. In the Eastern Conference, genuine contenders have emerged: the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards are both 9-1 in their last 10 games. Keep an eye on the trades as there are whispers of the Celtics cashing in on star man Isaiah Thomas while he is at the peak of his powers. If they do that, their season will likely plummet as he has made the difference in a series of narrow victories. But if either of these teams strengthens significantly, they could really push the Cavs, and right now both look interesting as the Celtics are 12/1 with 888 Sport and the Wizards are 18/1 with Bet Victor, offering far more value than an unpredictable Cleveland, who are just 4/11 with Ladbrokes.
Upcoming Games
On Tuesday Westbrook’s Thunder travel to Washington to face the in-form Wizards in what promises to be a fantastic clash. The Wizards have been supreme in front of their home fans lately, while the Thunder have travelled badly and are 12-16 on the road, so the Wizards should win this one. The Celtics travel to another in-form team, the Dallas Mavericks, but should be too strong for them, so a Celtics-Wizards Tuesday double looks a good bet. On Thursday the Celtics should cover a heavy spread against the Philadelphia 76ers, who are 7-18 on the road and in dire form. The Spurs are in Orlando to play the Magic, and should also cover a heavy spread there, making that another interesting potential double.
