2026 NBA Championship Odds: Cleveland Cavaliers are all-in
The 2026 NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and the league’s contenders have declared who they are. The biggest headline was Cleveland pushing its chips in by flipping Darius Garland for James Harden, signalling a clear win-now mindset.
Elsewhere, the Clippers’ front office effectively waved the white flag on this season, the Timberwolves made one of the best moves adding Ayo Dosunmo, while the Spurs continued to make a statement by once again owning the Thunder. Add in a stunning nine-game winning streak from Charlotte, and the final third of the season is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing of the 21st century thus far.
How did the NBA Championship odds change?
At the top of the NBA futures board, Oklahoma City still sits as the favourite at +125 odds. The Thunder are defending champions, yet they’ve now lost four times this season to San Antonio and are dealing with an abdominal injury sidelining MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for at least a couple of weeks.
Denver (+550) remains the steadiest contender behind OKC, with Nikola Jokić back and the roster largely untouched. Detroit (+1300) has held firm as the top dog in the East, though the Pistons remain young and largely inexperienced come the postseason. Cleveland (+1400) shortened after adding Harden to pair with Donovan Mitchell. The Spurs (+1400) have also seen their price tighten slightly, now just a few games back of OKC in the West.
Boston (+1500) and New York (+1600) remain in the mix despite injury concerns, while Houston (+1800) and Minnesota (+2500) have drifted amid inconsistency. One notable mover is Charlotte, still a long shot at +15000, but trending in the right direction after a 12-3 stretch and the best offensive rating in the sport over the last couple of weeks.
Hot and cold teams to watch out for
The Spurs are the league’s hottest team by both results and underlying metrics. They rank third in defensive rating, and are deep and balanced behind the sport’s most intriguing young unicorn in Victor Wembanyama. Detroit continues to bully the East with physical dominance, while Cleveland has won 10 of its last 12, including Harden’s team debut, in which he scored 23 on 7-of-13 from the field.
On the colder side, Houston has been a bit up and down and has had no deadline upgrades, compounded by Steven Adams being out for the season. Philadelphia took a major hit with Paul George’s 25-game suspension, and the Clippers’ season outlook cratered after moving Harden and Ivica Zubac, even if Kawhi Leonard is still trying to drag them into relevance.
The Knicks, Lakers, 76ers, Timberwolves, and Cavaliers have all had streaky seasons but remain firmly in the playoff and contention conversation.
Best NBA Championship futures bet to lock in right now: Spurs +1400
This number is simply too good to ignore. Are the Spurs young? Absolutely. Are they unproven in the playoffs? Of course. But they also have the most disruptive force in basketball in Victor Wembanyama, and a deep rotation that can beat you in multiple ways. San Antonio ranks among the league’s best on defence, is balanced offensively, and has already proven it can go toe-to-toe and win against the Thunder.
At +1400, you’re getting the No. 2 team in a loaded Western Conference at a favourable price. If you’re shopping for value instead of chalk, the Spurs are the futures bet to make right now.