News, Rumors, Updates, Odds For Blockbuster Signings, Kevin Durant Trade And More

The NBA free agency period finally begins tonight when the league allows teams to begin negotiating contracts with players at 6 p.m. ET.

This exciting stage of the offseason will quickly alter the league’s landscape, even if the deals aren’t able to be officially finalized until the moratorium on signings is lifted on July 6.

Several superstars are hitting the open market as part of a 2022 free-agency class. James Harden, Bradley Beal, Zach LaVine, Miles Bridges, Deandre Ayton and Jalen Brunson are just a few of the big-name talents set to sign new deals.

Here’s a look at the odds for where some of these stars could end up if they aren’t retained by their current organization:

2022 NBA Free Agency Odds

• Zach Levine (Bulls): Spurs (+250), Trail Blazers (+350), Lakers (+450)
• Bradley Beal (Wizards): Celtics (+300), Trail Blazers (+400), Heat (+500)
• Bobby Portis (Bucks): Heat (+300), Knicks (+325), Spurs (+350)
• Collin Sexton (Cavaliers): Pacers (+200), Pistons (+250), Wizards (+350)
• Deandre Ayton (Suns): Pistons (+150), Raptors (+250), Pacers (+350)
• Malik Monk (Lakers): Pistons (+250), Raptors (+275), Mavericks (+300)

Free agents won’t be the only NBA players finding new homes this summer. Kevin Durant is one of several marquee talents who could be on the move via trade.

Durant is undoubtedly the top prize available for contenders looking to add a superstar this summer. The Brooklyn Nets star is reportedly unhappy with his current franchise and has requested a trade less than a year after signing a massive $194 million extension that could have kept him in New York through the 2025-26 season.

Many are projecting Durant to end up with the Phoenix Suns. It’s hardly a surprise that Phoenix is the betting favorite to become the 33-year-old’s next team. Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes reported it was Durant’s preferred location when requesting a trade.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski confirmed that the Suns and Miami Heat were the two teams KD put on his short list, but noted that the Nets are likely to take the best possible deal put on the table. Durant does not have a no-trade clause in his contract, allowing Brooklyn’s brass to disregard the 12-time All-Star’s wishes in exchange for a massive package of picks and players.

Here are the latest odds on where Durant will play next:

Kevin Durant’s Next Team Odds

• Suns: +100
• Heat: +125
• Mavericks: +400
• Bulls: +700
• Trail Blazers: +1000
• 76ers: +1200
• Celtics: +1400
• Hawks: 2000
• Pelicans: +2000

These impending transactions will have a drastic impact on the odds to win the 2023 NBA Finals. You can check out the top contenders’ current NBA title odds courtesy of FanDuel below, a list that should change significantly by the time the moratorium is lifted on July 6.

2023 NBA Finals Championship Odds

• Golden State Warriors: +600
• Phoenix Suns: +600
• Los Angeles Clippers: +650
• Milwaukee Bucks: +700
• Boston Celtics: +700
• Miami Heat: +1000
• Philadelphia 76ers: +1500
• Brooklyn Nets: +1700
• Dallas Mavericks: +2100
• Memphis Grizzlies: +2100
• Denver Nuggets: +2400
• Los Angeles Lakers: +2500

The results of free agency and some seemingly inevitable blockbuster trades could also shake up the race to usurp Nikola Jokic as the league’s MVP.

The Nuggets star has taken home the hardware in back-to-back years but only has the fifth-best odds to win again in 2023. Jokic will have his work cut out attempting to become the third player all-time and first since Larry Bird (1984-1986) to pull off an MVP threepeat.

Luka Doncic, fresh off making his third All-NBA team and leading the Dallas Mavericks to an appearance in the Western Conference Finals, is the favorite to win the award.

A pair of powerhouse seven-footers in Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo aren’t far behind, while Durant is also right in the hunt and could see his odds spike based on whether he lands this summer.

With that in mind, here are the FanDuel odds for the top contenders to win the 2023 NBA MVP:

2023 NBA MVP Odds

• Luka Doncic +500
• Joel Embiid +550
• Giannis Antetokounmpo +600
• Kevin Durant +1000
• Nikola Jokic +1200
• Stephen Curry +1300
• Jayson Tatum +1500
• Ja Morant +1600
• Kawhi Leonard +2400
• Devin Booker +2800
• LeBron James +3000