Maybe the Boston Celtics will have a challenge in the Eastern Conference next season.
The Philadelphia 76ers made a huge addition as many NBA fans slept early Monday morning. Paul George, a nine-time All Star, agreed to join the 76ers on a four-year, $212 million deal. The betting market likes the fit.
The 76ers’ odds to win the NBA championship were sliced nearly in half with the news. When basketball fans went to bed, the 76ers were +1400 at BetMGM to win it all.
When they woke up, the 76ers were +800.
76ers move up in the East
George and the 76ers is a fun fit. Center Joel Embiid is a former NBA MVP, and guard Tyrese Maxey was a breakout star last season. Maxey signed a five-year, $204 million deal on Monday. But the results were unsatisfying, with the 76ers being bounced in the first round of the NBA playoffs by the New York Knicks.
This 76ers group, built around Embiid, has never been able to get to the NBA Finals. The 76ers haven’t been to the NBA Finals or even the conference finals since 2001. Maybe George helps change that.
George is 34 years old but still one of the NBA’s best wings. He made the NBA All-Star Game each of the past two seasons and last season averaged 22.6 points per game. All of a sudden the 76ers’ Big 3 is formidable. The George signing came right after the 76ers added some center depth by signing Andre Drummond to a two-year deal.
At very least, the Eastern Conference should be a little more interesting.
Celtics still the NBA favorites
One of the gripes from the last NBA playoffs was that the Celtics’ path to a title was too easy. Between injuries and the lack of strong contenders in the East, Boston was rarely challenged in the playoffs. The Celtics won the Eastern Conference by a whopping 14 games in the regular season and then cruised to a championship.
They are still the favorites to win the NBA Finals in 2025 at +300. The Denver Nuggets are next at +750. The 76ers slot in right after that, tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder at +800.
The odds to win the East changed with the George news as well. The 76ers moved from +650 to +400 to win the Eastern Conference overnight at BetMGM. Oddly, the New York Knicks (+375) are still second behind the Celtics (+125) in the conference odds. The Knicks made their own huge addition by trading for Mikal Bridges, who averaged 19.6 points per game with the Brooklyn Nets last season.
The 76ers are just trying to get closer to winning a championship, or at least making it back to the NBA Finals for the first time in more than 20 years. The odds indicate they took a big step toward that with the George addition.
