The NBA trade deadline, eventful as always, completely blew up the race to win the Western Conference and advance to the NBA Finals. Several All-Stars found themselves on new teams, while other squads stocked up on high-end role players.
With everything finalized, let’s take a look at the latest odds for each team to win the West. Please note that this is for the playoffs — not simply which team finishes the regular season with the No. 1 record in the conference.
All NBA odds are current as of Friday, Feb. 10, at 3 p.m. ET, and courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.
NBA Western Conference Betting Odds 2023
- Phoenix Suns (+230)
- Denver Nuggets (+375)
- Los Angeles Clippers (+550)
- Memphis Grizzlies (+700)
- Golden State Warriors (+750)
- Dallas Mavericks (+750)
- New Orleans Pelicans (+1600)
- Los Angeles Lakers (+2000)
- Sacramento Kings (+3000)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (+12500)
- Portland Trail Blazers (+12500)
- Utah Jazz (+15000)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (+30000)
- San Antonio Spurs (+100000)
- Houston Rockets (+100000)
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NBA Western Conference Best Bet
Denver Nuggets (+375)
They may not be the sexy choice anymore, but it’s hard to come up with a more complete or proven team than the Nuggets. Denver has the star power, two-way ability, and depth necessary to navigate through a truly menacing Western Conference.
Of course, any conversation has to start with Nikola Jokić, the two-time reigning MVP and likely winner again this year, per the latest NBA MVP odds. The 27-year-old big is averaging a triple-double with 24.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 10.1 assists per game and is arguably the most skilled player in the game today.
The Nuggets also roster valuable pieces in Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, all of whom fill their specific role and niche perfectly. Denver would also have the all-important home-court advantage if the playoffs started today, and nobody wants to play them on the road.
NBA Western Conference Favorites
Phoenix Suns (+230)
The Suns were stumbling through the season until they acquired Kevin Durant at the trade deadline. Now, they’ve formed perhaps the league’s scariest big three, with Durant, Devin Booker, and Chris Paul leading the way.
Depth is a bit of an issue at the moment — Phoenix had to give up key pieces in Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson to land Durant — but the Suns are expected to be active on the buyout market, and there are several players available who could make a real difference on this roster.
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Check out our assessment of the Kevin Durant deal and more in our NBA Trade Deadline Grades.
With that said, a trio of Durant, Booker, and Paul doesn’t need much additional help to make a real run at the title. I need to see how it looks on the court before I name this team as my definitive favorite, but this group certainly has the potential to win it all.
Los Angeles Clippers (+550)
The Clippers didn’t land a star at the trade deadline, but they really didn’t need to, either. Instead, Los Angeles addressed key needs by adding a backup point guard in Bones Hyland, a second starting-caliber big man in Mason Plumlee, and a veteran swingman in Eric Gordon.
LA remains one of the deepest teams in the Association, but health will be key here. The Clippers lost Kawhi Leonard during the playoffs in 2019-20, and Paul George appeared in just 31 games in 2021-22.
If this unit can stay together throughout the playoffs, though, then it could genuinely beat any team in the West in a seven-game series. Building consistency and continuity down the stretch of the regular season will be of the utmost importance.
2023 NBA Western Conference Contenders
Memphis Grizzlies (+700)
Memphis is tumbling into the All-Star break, having won just two of its last 10 games. The Grizzlies’ inability to win games on the road — particularly against other top-tier teams — is a concern, and it could prove to be their downfall.
With that said, there’s still a lot to like about this Memphis team. Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. form an incredible one-two punch, with Morant serving as the star of the show on offense and Jackson emerging as one of the top defenders in the NBA.
I need to see this club turn things around in March and April before I bet on them to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals, but I’ll admit that the (+700) price tag we can get right now is pretty enticing.
Golden State Warriors (+750)
Golden State currently occupies a play-in spot in the standings, which is pretty startling considering this team won the NBA Finals last year. However, injuries to Stephen Curry — and a massive issue with winning games on the road — have taken quite a toll on this group.
Curry’s latest absence could wind up being the one that costs the Warriors a playoff spot, meaning they made need to work their way through the play-in tournament to even qualify. And seeing as how they’ve played so poorly away from home, there’s reason to doubt that they can win the West again.
Fortunately, the standings are relatively tight right now, and Golden State still has the likes of Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson available to help them win games without Curry. Given the risk involved here, though, I wouldn’t bet on the Dubs right now.
Dallas Mavericks (+750)
The Mavericks made the risky move to acquire Kyrie Irving at the trade deadline, but it could pay off in a major way should he and Luka Dončić mesh. And mesh they should: These are two of the most gifted scorers in the NBA today, and the pairing could wind up being similar to Irving’s with LeBron James.
Defense is a pretty significant question mark here, as Dallas was forced to part with premier wing stopper Dorian Finney-Smith to land Irving. There’s also the issue of Irving’s availability and potential chemistry issues that come along with bringing him in.
However, if everything works out how the Mavs envision, this offense could be nearly impossible to counter. Dončić already took this team to the Western Conference Finals last year with Jalen Brunson as his running mate, and Irving is certainly an upgrade.
NBA Western Conference Sleepers
New Orleans Pelicans (+1600)
The Pelicans have almost been squeezed out of a playoff spot over the last month, dropping from the top spot in the Western Conference to the No. 7 seed. Injuries to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram have taken their toll, forcing CJ McCollum to carry the offense for far too long.
There’s still hope for this New Orleans squad, though. Should Williamson return in due time and allow this star trio to get enough reps in together ahead of the postseason, the Pelicans could make a legitimate run. The rise of the Suns and Mavericks hurts, though.
Unless the Pels can go on another dominant run down the stretch of the regular season, I wouldn’t count on them to rip through the Western Conference playoffs and reach the NBA Finals.
Los Angeles Lakers (+2000)
The Lakers made some much-needed improvements ahead of the trade deadline, shedding Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, and others and acquiring D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley, and Mo Bamba in the process.
Los Angeles significantly improved its depth on both ends of the floor, and Beasley gives them a legitimate three-point shooting threat that was painfully absent before.
I’m still not sold on this team being a title contender, but if LeBron James and Anthony Davis stay healthy and get back to their winning ways following the All-Star break, they could at least snag a playoff spot.
Sacramento Kings (+3000)
Despite the fact that the Kings currently have the third-best record in the Western Conference, they’re all the way down here — behind the 13th-place Lakers, even — at (+3000).
I get it, too. Sacramento hasn’t won a playoff series since 2004, and this roster probably isn’t the one that gets them to the NBA Finals. But the Kings have genuinely been good this year, and they deserve more respect than this.
Sacramento can outscore any team in the league on any given night. Should they get hot once the postseason rolls around — and maintain a spot near the top of the Western Conference standings — they could certainly go on a magical run.
