The Complete NBA Futures Odds Picture: April 2022

The ten teams competing in the Eastern Conference side of the postseason bracket are set, while the basketball world is on high alert to see if the Los Angeles Lakers will miss the playoffs for the second time in the LeBron James’ era.

The next few days of the NBA season will be an interesting mix of teams jockeying for positioning, others resting starters ahead of the postseason, and even more squads evaluating the talent on the roster in advance of the draft and free agency. With the playoffs just around the corner, let’s take a look at four teams who made significant movements up and down the NBA futures board over the past month.

Stock Up

Boston Celtics Futures Odds 

(Current Odds to win the NBA Championship: +1000, UniBET)

No team in the Eastern Conference is playing better right now than the Boston Celtics who, as of this weekend, have ripped off an incredible 21-5 run since the start of January. Those whispers of first-year head coach Ime Udoka possibly being in over his head have quickly been replaced by Coach of the Year endorsements as Boston looks exceptionally sharp heading into the postseason.

The recent meniscus injury to Robert Williams III appears to be less severe than originally thought, and the Celtics could have their energetic center back by the second round of the playoffs. That said, a possible first round matchup with, say, the Brooklyn Nets or Toronto Raptors could end Boston’s season before Williams can get back out on the court.

The offensive exploits of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are what make the headlines and the highlights, but Boston is doing this with defense: The Celtics have a league-best Defensive Rating of 106.8. In addition, they’ve either won or tied the season series with each of the teams they could potentially face on the road to the NBA Finals. Simply put, there’s no reason to believe that Boston can’t still be playing basketball when June rolls around.

Memphis Grizzlies

(Current Odds to win the NBA Championship: +1800, DraftKings)

Who knows when and where it will ultimately end for Memphis, but Beale Street is jumping these days as the Grizzlies have captured the hearts and minds of fans all across the NBA. A team this young locking up the No. 2 seed in a stacked Western Conference is astonishing enough… the fact that they’ve ripped off 20 wins without their superstar guard Ja Morant is an achievement in itself.

At the start of the 2021-22 campaign, Memphis had +8500 odds to win the NBA title. On February 9, their NBA odds were down at +2500, and today, you can find them at +1400 if you look hard enough. Not only are the Grizzlies an enjoyable team to watch, but with only three players on the roster over the age of 25, we’ll be able to see this team grow over the next several years (provided they can manage the salary cap effectively).

It’s probably safe to say that the Grizzlies’ lack of playoff experience is their biggest hurdle over the next month or two, but it’s hard to bet against a team that has rolled over the NBA for the better part of the past three months. Morant’s knee injury should be healed in time for the postseason, and if it is, Memphis has the goods to hang with any team out West.

Stock Down

Philadelphia 76ers

(Current Odds to win the NBA Championship: +1100, FanDuel)

What a difference a month makes… at the beginning of March, the Philadelphia 76ers had +700 odds to win the NBA championship at some sportsbooks, as new addition James Harden provided a much-needed spark to Doc Rivers’ offense.

Four weeks later, the new edition of the Sixers are recently removed from a three-game losing streak that included a 102-94 loss to the moribund Detroit Pistons. Philly’s recent slide hasn’t only moved their title odds from +700 to +1100, but it has made a significant dent in Joel Embiid’s chance at the MVP trophy.

All things considered, the Sixers are still a bit undervalued in relation to their rivals. Philadelphia has arguably the best 1-2 punch in the league in Embiid and Harden, and the team has an outside shot of capturing a top-two seed in a loaded Eastern Conference. Yet despite all of that, they have the sixth-best odds to capture the Larry O’Brien Trophy, making them an intriguing value play for those willing to take the risk.

Golden State Futures Odds

(Current Odds to win the NBA Championship: +850, FanDuel)

Golden State at +850 might be the best value on the board, bar none. Of course, you can only get them at this price because of Stephen Curry’s foot injury. The Warriors’ sharpshooter will be re-evaluated next week and is likely a go for the postseason, making Golden State the most dangerous team out West not named the Phoenix Suns.

To be fair, ending March with seven losses in their final eight games is cause for a bit of concern. Yes, Curry did miss most of those matchups, but even with the former two-time MVP in street clothes, the Warriors should have beaten the likes of the Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, and Washington Wizards.

Even so, a downgrade to the Warriors’ odds is nothing more than an opportunity for the advantageous bettor: Golden State had the second-best record in the league prior to the All-Star break (when their title odds were at +480 with much of that time sans the services of Klay Thompson), and should be easily be able to slip back into that championship-level gear once Curry returns.