As the NBA offseason and transaction cycle slowly wraps up and things start to settle in place, eyes start to wander toward the start of next season. With that come future bets and betting odds for the 2024-25 season. DraftKings Sportsbook has come out with some very early lines and future bets including win totals for every NBA team.
Logically enough, the defending champions, the Boston Celtics have the highest total for next year as DK is projecting them for 57.5 wins next season, three more than any other team. The second-highest total belongs to last season’s number-one seed in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder with a total of 54.5.
Nuggets projected for 3rd highest total, 52.5 wins
Coming in just behind the Thunder at 52.5 are the Minnesota Timberwolves and your very own Denver Nuggets. The 52.5 is tied for the third-highest total in the league and is a pretty positive reflection on the returning Nuggets, especially reigning MVP Nikola Jokic.
Denver finished well over the number last season, winning 57 games but they lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to free agency while the rest of the Western Conference has become much more competitive. All things considered, the fact that only one West team has a higher total than the Nuggets shows that Vegas and bettors have a lot of confidence in the team.
The New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Milwaukee Bucks all have win totals projected at 51.5 and the Dalla Mavericks are the only other team above 50, with a total of 51.5. The Brooklyn Nets have the lowest total in the league, as they are projected for 19.5 wins - the only team with a total under 20.
No odds for Warriors, Jazz, and Bulls
The Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz, and Golden State Warriors are the only three teams that don’t have a total posted due to trade rumors and speculations creating roster uncertainty. Ultimately these numbers don’t mean much, but it’s a good starting point for projecting how things may play out next season.
More than anything else, it’s probably a good reason for Nuggets fans to step away from the panic button and realize that despite a less-than-ideal offseason, this team is still one of the top-tier contenders even in a loaded Western Conference and that’s likely to remain the case as long as they have Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.