NBA Futures
As we head into All-Star weekend, our VSiN experts look for value in the NBA futures market.
Zachary Cohen
Phoenix Suns to Win NBA Title (14-1)
The Suns have some work to do in order to avoid the Play-In Tournament, but they’ll like their chances of going all the way if they can. Of course, Phoenix would have a tough road because of a lousy start to the season, but does anybody in the conference have it easy? The Western Conference Playoffs will be an absolute gauntlet, but Phoenix will have an advantage in the talent department in most matchups. That makes it hard to lay off the Suns at these odds. I don’t think much separates them from the Clippers and Nuggets. And I tend to think the winner of the Western Conference will win the title.
Cleveland Cavaliers to Win NBA Title (28-1)
I mentioned this in my Cavaliers analysis, but I like this as a play to potentially hedge later. I liked it a lot more when I wrote it up at 45-1 at VSiN.com a few weeks ago, but I wouldn’t hate taking a shot at it at anything north of 25-1. The Eastern Conference is a little more open than people think, with the Celtics playing a brand of basketball that gives them a high variance — and the Bucks and Sixers both having their own issues. That leaves the door open for the Knicks and Cavaliers, but I like the price on Cleveland a little more.
Bogdan Bogdanovic To Win 6th Man of the Year (29-1)
It feels like this award is down to six players (Tim Hardaway Jr., Malik Monk, Norman Powell, Bogdanovic, Caris LeVert, Jordan Clarkson). Well, Bogdanovic has the best Estimated Plus-Minus of all of them, yet he’s available at some of the best odds. With that in mind, I think it’s worth throwing something on him. The Hawks have been disappointing this season, but they’re still likely to make the Play-In Tournament. If they do, I don’t see why Bogdanovic wouldn’t get serious consideration here. His counting stats are on par with the best scorers of the bunch, but he has been more efficient than all of them.
Jonathan Von Tobel
Golden State Warriors To Make The Playoffs (+150)
With a few months left in the season, this is a small price to invest in, but Golden State is starting to turn things around. Draymond Green returned from suspension, and the Warriors are 8-5 SU/9-4 ATS record in his first 13 games back. When he and Stephen Curry are on the floor they outscore opponents by 4.5 points every 100 possessions. They will also get Chris Paul back soon after the break, and they have the sixth-easiest remaining strength of schedule. Those who bet on this will likely have to sweat out a Play-In game, but Golden State will be the best team in the Play-In Tournament without question, and a path to the postseason is worth investing in.
Luka Doncic To Win MVP (13-1)
If there were an MVP candidate worth investing in at this point of the season, it would be Doncic. He has the counting stats – 34.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game – and in the most recent straw poll from ESPN reporter Tim Bontemps he closed the gap on Giannis Antetokounmpo. In fact, he got one more first-place vote than Antetokounmpo did. The fifth seed is the likely ceiling for Dallas, but should it achieve that with Doncic continuing to put forward these stat lines, it is clear he has a higher probability to win the award than 13-1 would indicate.
