Kevin Durant Trade To Suns Shakes Up NBA Title Odds

The blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns from the Brooklyn Nets has shaken up the odds to win the NBA championship.

Per bookmaker.eu, the Suns were at 17/1 to win the NBA title prior to the trade and are now tied for the second favorite with the Milwaukee Bucks at 6/1. The Boston Celtics are the favorite at 3/1, while the Denver Nuggets are at 6.5/1.

The Suns now have their own “Big 3” with Durant, Chris Paul and Devin Booker, along with center Deandre Ayton, and are as formidable as any team in the West. Phoenix (30-26) is tied for the fourth seed in the West with the Dallas Mavericks, who just traded for Kyrie Irving, Durant’s former Nets running buddy.

“You got now about 25 games to make this fit, get cohesive, get into the playoffs and find your rhythm,” ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler said on air of the Suns.

Durant has been out since early last month with an MCL injury and is expected to to return sometime after the All-Star break. He is averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists.

“Kevin Durant is coming off an injury, we expect him to be fine shortly after the All-Star break,” Legler said. “Devin Booker just came back, so this is not going to be seamless. You don’t just all of a sudden put these guys out there a week from now and think they’re just going to steamroll the Western Conference because you can see how loaded it is. But on paper, yes, this is the team you would look at and say, ‘Yes, they’ve got the best chance. They’ve got a point guard, they’ve got a two, they’ve got a small forward and they’ve got a big in their starting lineup that are all capable of being dominant.

“That’s the team that should be favored.”