On Halloween, it’s a good time to look back on the first two weeks of the NBA season that has been full of tricks for some teams (Lakers) and treats for others (Spurs); one of the tricks is on people who bet on the Brooklyn Nets’ futures odds to win the 2022-23 NBA title before the season began.
After it was clear that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were returning to the Nets this year, their preseason odds to win the NBAs title settled in at around +700. When it wasn’t clear that those stars would be suiting up for Brooklyn, the odds at FanDuel were +1500.
But after a slow 1-5 start to the season–including a dispiriting loss to the Indiana Pacers over the weekend–those odds are back where they were earlier this summer.
| TEAM | CURRENT ODDS TO WIN 2022-23 NBA TITLE | ODDS DURING PRESEASON | ODDS IN JULY |
| Brooklyn Nets | +1500 | +700 | +1500 |
FanDuel’s Nets Odds Represents Some Value
If you thought the Nets would be back where they were two seasons ago as a favorite in the Eastern Conference, we’ll give you advice to just hold on. Like a bad run on the stock market, it’s early in the NBA season, and before long, Brooklyn could be back in business.
And FanDuel is offering some extra value. Here’s a look at some of the other top sportsbooks with current Brooklyn Nets futures odds:
- DraftKings: +850
- BetMGM: +1000
- Caesars Sportsbook: +1000
- PointsBet: +1200
This is a prime example to shop around for your odds before you place a bet. You’re almost getting twice as much value on a Nets bet at FanDuel than at DraftKings.
Will the Nets Turn It Around?
It’s been a rough start for two men who spent much of the 2010s facing each other in the NBA Finals: Durant and LeBron James,. The Lakers are still searching for their first win.
One constant of Durant’s tenure in Brooklyn is turmoil. Two years ago, it was the health of Irving and how the team gelled with James Harden. Then last year, Harden was traded and Irving barely played any home games due to COVID-19 vaccination policies in New York City.
In the offseason, Durant reportedly wanted head coach Steve Nash and general manager Sean Marks fired. That didn’t happen, however. Durant then returned after the Nets allegedly couldn’t get anyone to reach the asking price for the former Thunder and Warriors star.
Ben Simmons has played, which is good. But after missing an entire year, it’s expected that he’s off to a slow start. And here’s the thing: if the stars of this team wasn’t on the same page as the front office over the summer, a 1-5 start and the effort that was given in the loss to the Pacers reflects that.
The Brooklyn Nets Have an Uphill Battle
There’s nothing to suggest that the team will be a contender in a strong Eastern Conference. The caveat is that people can change, but this team doesn’t look like it will compete with the elite teams in the East. Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Boston are all off to strong starts. Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Toronto will be strong, and even with Miami off to a slow start (2-5), they’re still ahead of the Nets in the standings.
There’s more value in an NBA Finals pick of the Nets right now. We don’t, however, see this turning around in Brooklyn unless there’s a big change in the players on the floor or the men leading the team.
