The NBA offseason is starting to pick up now that Kevin Durant has elected to stay put in Brooklyn. We’re going to see more trades now that that saga is over. Also, veteran free agents that haven’t signed yet will eventually find a home.
In the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs made a play-in game after winning just 34 games. Will the Western Conference perform a bit better than last year? Which teams should we look out for and which teams will underperform in the 2022-’23 season?
Here are our top 5 value NBA futures bets for the next season.
PLAY NOW: $25,000 Free-To-Play NFL Contest: BMR’s 2022 Pick’Em Pool Opens for Registration
Phoenix Suns
- Season Win Total: Over 51.5 Wins (-115)
The Phoenix Suns won 64 games last season. They dominated at home, losing just 9 games, and also lost just 9 games on the road. Sure, the Suns overachieved, but they also had moments without Devin Booker and Chris Paul throughout the season. Yet, the Suns still finished with 64 wins.
The starting lineup is the same as last year. We’ll get Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, and DeAndre Ayton starting for the Suns. Cameron Payne will still come off the bench to go along with Cam Johnson, Landry Shamet, Josh Okogie, and Bismack Biyombo.
The chemistry of this roster is really good. They’ll no longer have JaVale McGee, but the top nine players on this roster will all return. McGee isn’t the reason the Suns will go from winning 64 games to under 52 wins.
Golden State Warriors
- Season Win Total: Over 51.5 Wins (-115)
The Golden State Warriors are going to miss out on a lot of role players that they had last year. Otto Porter and Gary Payton II won’t be around but they did bring in Donte DiVincenzo and JaMychal Green for added depth. Both will be solid rotation pieces for this squad.
The Warriors now get to start a fresh season with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green all healthy. That’s scary. Especially knowing that a guy like Jordan Poole will come off the bench with Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. Plus, Mac McClung could really elevate his game this year.
Oh, and who knows how good James Wiseman will be when he returns. There’s also Patrick Baldwin Jr., who the Warriors drafted last year. Golden State is going to be dominant again this year.
Memphis Grizzlies
- Season Win Total: Under 48.5 (+105)
The Memphis Grizzlies were sensational last year. But will that kind of success carry over into next year? The reality is, Ja Morant was out for many games last season and it seemed like the Grizzlies played better without him.
Another reality is that Memphis really doesn’t have much depth at guard. They’ve loaded up with centers but this isn’t a league where you need five centers in the rotation.
Morant and Tyus Jones will be a solid duo at guard, but Danny Green was their main signing over free agency. I just don’t see how the Grizzlies can repeat what they did last year with so little depth at guard.
Kennedy Chandler would have to step up. He’s capable of doing that, but again, that’s hard to imagine right away.
Minnesota Timberwolves
- Season Win Total: Over 48.5 Wins (-120)
Minnesota is built to win now. They just added Rudy Gobert to pair up with Karl-Anthony Towns down low. They’ll have D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards doing a lot of the scoring as well.
Plus, they’re deep. They can play Austin Rivers, Bryn Forbes, Jaylen Nowell, C.J. Elleby, Kyle Anderson, Taurean Prince, and Naz Reid.
Eric Paschall and Luka Garza could eventually enter the rotation along with Wendell Moore Jr. I love what the T-Wolves are doing and believe they’ll be really good throughout the season.
Portland Trail Blazers
- Season Win Total: Over 39.5 Wins (-115)
The Blazers have a ton of depth this year. Anfernee Simons could legitimately come off the bench for the Blazers after averaging 17 per game last year.
The Blazers could start Dame Lillard along with Josh Hart, Nassir Little, Jerami Grant, and Jusuf Nurkic. They’ll have also Keon Johnson off the bench along with Trendon Watford and Drew Eubanks.
And don’t forget that Gary Payton II is also on the roster and was a big helping hand last season for Golden State. I like what Portland is doing. They’re not a championship team but they’ll compete.
Calculators
