The 2022 NBA offseason has felt ridiculously long; partly because we aren’t living in condensed offseasons anymore as a result of the pandemic, and partly because the Brooklyn Nets-Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving saga put the NBA in scramble mode.
However, the saga ended on Tuesday morning without any transactions.
The Nets released a statement on Twitter informing the world that the organization and Durant are moving forward with their partnership and ending trade discussions.
So, KD will remain a net. Kyrie also will. How does it all impact the 2022-23 Brooklyn Nets? If you ask the betting public, it means the Nets are back in the NBA championship picture.
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) August 23, 2022
According to John Ewing of BetMGM, the number of tickets holding Nets NBA championship futures are skyrocketing following Tuesday’s news of Durant remaining a Brooklyn Net.
Tickets containing Nets 2022-23 championship futures jumped from 5% to 18%, and the handle up from 5% to 33% (both from eighth most to the most).
Betting on @BrooklynNets to win NBA Championship at @BetMGM
Before KD news
▪️ Tickets: 5% (8th most)
▪️ Handle: 5% (8th most)Last 24 hours
▪️ Tickets: 16% (most)
▪️ Handle: 33% (most)— John Ewing 🦁 (@johnewing) August 24, 2022
A lot of confidence is being put on the Nets’ talent throughout the roster, which may be better than ever. But banking on talent is tough considering what this core of players has gone through, and what they haven’t accomplished over the past few years.
But I can see the vision. A healthy Nets team with cohesion could be dangerous.