WHETHER the Dallas Mavericks’ bold move to acquire Kyrie Irving will pay off in a deep playoff run will be one of the more intriguing storylines down the stretch of the NBA season, but the blockbuster deal made an immediate impact on oddsmakers.
The Mavericks are 28-26 and sitting in the bubble of the play-in tournament while star Luka Doncic deals with a heel injury. However, shortly after news of the reported Irving trade broke on Sunday, their NBA title odds were slashed in half by DraftKings.
A +3000 longshot to win the NBA title to begin Sunday, Dallas now has the eighth-shortest odds at +1500. The Mavericks are also eighth at BetMGM, where they have even shorter title odds at +1200.
The Mavericks also moved from +1300 to win the Western Conference to +700 at DraftKings, putting them behind only the Denver Nuggets (+340), Los Angeles Clippers (+380), Memphis Grizzlies (+475) and Golden State Warriors (+650).
Mr. Irving requested to be traded on Friday and two days later the Mavericks were able to pull of the deal ahead of Thursday’s deadline.
The Nets will receive guard Spencer Dinwiddie, forward Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 unprotected first-round draft pick, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick, according to The Athletic. The Mavericks also will receive forward Markieff Morris in the deal.
Brooklyn’s futures odds have taken a significant hit with Mr. Irving heading out of town. Despite being fourth in the Eastern Conference at 32-20, the Nets moved from +320 to win the conference to +650 and their NBA title odds lengthened from +1500 to +2000.
The Clippers, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers were also believed to be in the running to acquire Irving, an eight-time All-Star who teamed with LeBron James to bring an NBA title to Cleveland with the Cavaliers in 2016.
The Lakers were installed as the early favorites to acquire Mr. Irving on Friday by SportsBetting.ag, but their Western Conference odds are now +1500 while their title odds are +3500 at DraftKings. — Reuters
