A couple of superstars changed teams in blockbuster trades or through free agency during the NBA offseason. The New York Knicks’ first championship in 53 years sent shockwaves throughout the league, prompting front offices to make aggressive moves to contend for a title in 2027.
The biggest trades featured two-time MVP Giannis ‘Greek Freak’ Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown, Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball, and Kawhi Leonard. The Milwaukee Bucks traded Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat, while the Boston Celtics sent Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Charlotte Hornets dealt Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Memphis Grizzlies shipped Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers.
LeBron James also joined a new team as a free agent. After eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Despite the flurry of trades, the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder remain co-favorites to win the 2027 NBA championship at +260 odds, according to BetMGM. The 76ers are third on the board at +850. The defending champion Knicks +900 to run it back.
Greek Freak Begins New Chapter in Miami
Antetokounmpo appeared in only 36 games during an injury-riddled 2025-26 season. In his three previous seasons, he averaged more than 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists per game.
After a season of nonstop trade speculation, the Bucks finally moved an unhappy Antetokounmpo. He preferred a trade to the Knicks, but a championship run effectively took them out of the market. Antetokounmpo agreed to a trade to Miami instead.
The Heat gave up Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kel’el Ware to land Antetokounmpo. The blockbuster trade did not improve the Heat’s NBA championship odds, which drifted from +1800 before the trade to +2500 afterward. The price is currently +3000. Meanwhile, the Bucks saw their title odds tumble to +75000.
Celtics Make Baffling Jaylen Brown Trade
Jaylen Brown is coming off a career-best season with 28.6 ppg, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. He led the Celtics to 56 wins and the #2 seed in the East while Jayson Tatum recovered from an Achilles injury. Brown’s relationship with the Celtics soured after a first-round playoff exit.
General manager Brad Stevens rejected a Greek Freak trade offer by the Bucks. The Celtics did not want to overpay for Antetokounmpo. Brown was involved in that trade package, but after negotiations broke down, Stevens pivoted and offered Brown to the highest bidder.
The Celtics sought four first-round picks for Brown, but no one was interested. Diehard fans were livid when the Celtics shipped Brown to the 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks.
At the start of the offseason, the Celtics were third on the futures board at +550. They slipped to +1100 after the Brown trade. Their price has since dropped to +1400.
LeBron James Also Joins the 76ers, Futures Markets Go Wild
After informing the Los Angeles Lakers that he wasn’t interested in sticking around, James took his sweet time to select his next team.
It was no secret that James wanted to play for the Golden State Warriors. However, the Warriors were not interested. Both of his former teams, the Cleveland Cavs and Miami Heat, also did not want to bring James back. In the end, James took nearly a 93 percent pay cut to join the 76ers on a veteran minimum contract worth $3.8 million.
Landing Jaylen Brown in a lopsided trade was a huge coup that fired up the fanbase around Philly. Although their championship hopes are tethered to the health of Joel Embiid, the 76ers saw their odds go bonkers across multiple markets at BetMGM after they signed James.
The Knicks are a slight favorite to win the Atlantic Division at +175, but the 76ers are right behind them at +225. The 76ers are the consensus favorite to win the Eastern Conference at +350 and just ahead of the Knicks at +375.
After adding James and Brown, the 76ers moved into third on the futures board to win the NBA championship at +850. The Knicks are now +900.
Hornets Bounce LaMelo Ball to Minnesota
Get ready for some fun highlights involving LaMelo Ball and All-Star shooting guard Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves added a true point guard and an elite playmaker with Ball. In six seasons with the Hornets, Ball averaged 20.8 points and 7.3 assists per game.
The Hornets sent Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota in exchange for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps, and three second-round picks.
To clear enough cap space for Ball, the Timberwolves also traded Julius Randle when they exiled him to the Brooklyn Nets.
After ditching Randle and adding Ball, the Timberwolves saw a slight championship odds bump to +2500. Following Ball’s departure, the Hornets are +12500.
Portland Takes a Flier on Ja Morant
Ja Morant is a tremendous talent and an exciting player to watch. The former #2 pick in the draft averaged nearly 27 points, eight assists, and six rebounds per game during his two best seasons in Memphis between 2021-23. However, his durability and off-the-court problems made him a huge liability. Morant battled injuries and multiple suspensions, appearing in just 79 games for the Grizzlies in the last three seasons.
The Grizzlies traded Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. Morant joins veteran All-Star Damian Lillard and a young squad that also includes Deni Avdija, Scoot Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe. The Trail Blazers are now +8000 to win a title.
After the trade, the Grizzlies’ price plummeted to +100000, which was tied with the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings for the longest odds on the futures board.
Kawhi Leonard Returns to Toronto
Kawhi Leonard led the Raptors to an unexpected championship in 2019 during a one-and-done season in Toronto. Leonard’s return to Canada has created a huge buzz, especially in the betting markets. The Raptors saw a significant title odds increase from +10000 to +2500 following the trade.
The Clippers sent Leonard to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, one pick swap, and a pair of second-rounders.
The trade happened before the NBA issued its largest punishment in history after the Clippers were involved in a salary cap circumvention investigation involving Leonard and his agent. The Clippers must forfeit five first-round picks, pay a $30 million fine, and owner Steve Ballmer will serve a one-year suspension.
The Clippers are near the bottom of the futures board to win the title at +75000. Only the Nets and Kings have worse odds at +100000.
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