NBA odds: Fade the Brooklyn Nets regardless of Kevin Durant staying

By Jason McIntyre
FOX Sports activities Betting Analyst

August is the NBA’s quietest month, however Kevin Durant’s resolution to remain in Brooklyn and retract his commerce demand had huge implications on the Nets’ odds to win the title.

Again in early July, days after Durant demanded to be dealt from Brooklyn, the Nets obtained to as excessive as 50-1 to win the 2023 NBA Championship. For those who have been one of many fortunate few to get down some cash on Brooklyn, congratulations.

RELATED: How the Nets gained the Kevin Durant staring contest

However you’ll forgive everybody else who didn’t as a result of, in current instances when NBA stars say they need to be traded, they get their want.

Over the previous 15 years, the largest NBA stars that stated they wished out – Anthony Davis (New Orleans), Kyrie Irving (Cleveland), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio), Ben Simmons (Philadelphia), Paul George (Indiana), Jimmy Butler (Minnesota) – have been in a position to power their approach out. Granted, none of these gamers had 4 years left on their deal like KD, however traditionally, that hasn’t mattered.

After the Nets introduced Durant was staying – together with Irving, who has one 12 months left on his deal – Brooklyn’s odds to win the title shortened all the best way right down to 18-1. They’re even as little as 7-1 at some books as I write this. 

Roster-wise, I might put the Nets behind solely Boston within the East. Whenever you have a look at simply the expertise for gamers 1-10, Brooklyn is unequivocally higher than the Bucks, Warmth and Hawks. However, I am right here to burst that championship bubble. Let’s leap into why I am fading the Nets this 12 months.

NETS ODDS FOR 2022-23 SEASON (all odds at FOX Guess) *

Nets to win NBA title: +900 (guess $10 to win $100 whole)
Kevin Durant to win NBA MVP: +1000 (guess $10 to win $110 whole)
Kyrie Irving to win NBA MVP: +10000 (guess $10 to win $1,010 whole)

* = odds as of 8/23/2022

First, let’s get to the query on everybody’s thoughts, which is, can this workforce keep wholesome?

Final season, Durant, Irving and Joe Harris all missed vital time with accidents. In the meantime, Simmons hasn’t performed regulation basketball since Might 2021. If everybody can keep wholesome, chemistry will likely be one other problem. Sure, they’ll have all season to construct cohesion, however that can take time and wholesome our bodies. Given the workforce’s harm historical past to date within the Durant/Irving period, it is a legitimate concern.

As for the largest motive why I am out on the Nets, I will sum it up for you with only one title: Kyrie Irving. His future goes to be a large storm cloud hovering over this workforce this season.

Let’s face it, for as proficient because the star PG is, you by no means know what you’re going to get from him on the court docket, or if he’ll even play. If Irving needs to remain in Brooklyn past this season, he’ll attempt to play in 70-plus video games, and if that occurs, he’s prone to be an All-NBA participant. However, if he is aware of he’s gone, does he go all-in and play at a excessive degree each sport? Or does he solely play properly sufficient to get a most contract supply subsequent summer time from another person. 

Both approach, tying up cash for 9 months on Irving looks like an especially high-risk futures guess. In a staggering stat, you need to go all the best way again to 2017 to seek out the final time Irving was wholesome sufficient to play double-digit playoff video games.

That is all to say I gained’t be betting on any Nets futures this upcoming NBA season.

Jason McIntyre is a FOX Sports activities betting analyst, and he additionally writes in regards to the NFL and NBA Draft. He joined FS1 in 2016 and has appeared on each present on the community. In 2017, McIntyre started producing playing content material on the NFL, school soccer and NBA for FOX Sports activities. He had a playing podcast for FOX, “Coming Up Winners,” in 2018 and 2019. Earlier than arriving at FOX, he created the web site The Huge Lead, which he offered in 2010.

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