Nuggets' 2026 NBA title odds soar after big offseason moves
Oddsmakers are taking notice of the Nuggets.
After falling to the eventual NBA champion Thunder in seven games during the semifinal round, Denver has positioned itself as one of the top contenders for the 2026 title.
After a bevy of shrewd moves, the Nuggets jumped from +1600 odds before free agency to +700 to win it all next season, which is the second-best mark at BetMGM Sportsbook.
'We love what the Nuggets did,' BetMGM trading manager Hal Egeland said in a statement.
'Every move they've made has been smart. The Nuggets are our most-bet team since free agency started.'
Cam Johnson will play for the Nuggets this upcoming season.
JASON SZENES/ NY POST
The Nuggets biggest move thus far this summer was a trade that sent Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick to the Nets in exchange for Cam Johnson, improving the team defensively without giving up much offensively.
That deal cleared enough cap space to allow Denver to sign former Nugget Bruce Brown and sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. to free agent deals.
The franchise also traded for big man Jonas Valanciunas, although he may leave the NBA to play in Greece.
Oklahoma City, which is a +275 favorite to repeat as champions, is still the class of the league, but Denver is arguably better suited to compete with them next season than it was with its thin rotation during this past playoff run.
The Nuggets have an older roster, so it's probably wise to stay away from their regular season win total.
Betting on the NBA?
But once playoff time comes, the suddenly-deep Nikola Jokic and Co. are as sure of a playoff team as any.
Take a flier on Denver to win the second title of the Jokic era.
The play: Nuggets to win the 2026 NBA championship (+700, BetMGM Sportsbook)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports. He's particularly knowledgeable about the big three — MLB, the NFL and the NBA.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
11 minutes ago
- New York Times
Clippers likely leaders to sign Bradley Beal if Suns buyout goes through: Source
As long as he secures a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Clippers are likely the leaders to sign guard Bradley Beal, league sources tell The Athletic. Contending Western Conference teams have expressed interest in the 32-year-old, who averaged 17.3 points per game last season in Phoenix but came to represent the Suns' inflexibility as they failed to build a contender around him, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. Advertisement If he goes to the Clippers, Beal would be part of a potential lineup with James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, John Collins and Ivica Zubac. The team paved the way for that possibility by trading Norman Powell to Miami in a three-team swap that brought Collins in from the Jazz. The Clippers can offer Beal up to $5.3 million in salary for the 2025-26 season. They have cap space left over from the $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception, which they used most of to sign Brook Lopez. The team finalized his contract on Sunday. After dealing Powell, Lawrence Frank, the Clippers' president of basketball operations, alluded to more moves by the team on the horizon. 'The work's not done. We still have a lot of work to do, but I think we're moving in the right direction to give this group a chance to be better than we were last year,' Frank said. 'There's obviously no guarantees. The West is unforgiving. Yet at the same time, we have to run our own race and we're doing the best we can.' Beal has also considered the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks, league sources said. As of Tuesday, Beal and the Suns were still discussing the possibility of a contract buyout. Both sides remain optimistic it will get done, league sources tell The Athletic. He has two years and $110.8 million remaining on his deal. If the Suns waive Beal, they could stretch his salary over five seasons, leaving approximately $19.4 million in dead money on their books through 2029-30. Because of a quirk in the collective bargaining agreement, Beal must give back at least $13.8 million in a buyout for the Suns to stretch his salary. Beal understands that because the money has dried up on the free-agent market, he is unlikely to make back the $13.8 million he would be giving up right away. His ideal move could be to sign a two-year contract with a player option on the second season, allowing him to re-enter the market in 2026 to sign for a larger number. Advertisement The Clippers waived third-year forward Jordan Miller on Tuesday, a league source said, a move that will give them a bit more room below the first apron, a payroll threshold slightly above the luxury tax. Had they not waived Miller, giving Beal a $5.3 million salary would have made it more complicated to fill out the roster with two veterans on minimum contracts. Beal signed a five-year, $251 million contract with the Washington Wizards in 2022 that contained a no-trade clause, a rarity in the league where front offices don't typically yield that level of control.
San Francisco Chronicle
16 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Mike Brown is excited about the potential and the pressure of being Knicks coach
GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) — Mike Brown knows there's going to be pressure that comes with coaching the Knicks. He also knows there's a great roster and great restaurants waiting in New York. He's excited about all of it. The new Knicks coach shook off any concerns about taking over a team that fired Tom Thibodeau despite getting two wins from the NBA Finals, pointing to the positives Tuesday that made him want the job. 'Nobody has any bigger expectations, first of all, than I do. I mean, my expectations are high,' Brown said. 'But this is the Knicks. I talked about Madison Square Garden being iconic. You talk about our fans. I love and embrace the expectations that come along with it, so I'm looking forward to it.' Brown was hired a little more than a month after the Knicks surprisingly fired Thibodeau despite getting to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years. Brown didn't want to talk too much about that decision, nor the Sacramento Kings' choice to fire him last season. 'First of all, Tom's a tremendous coach and he is a friend of mine, but I don't want to get to the past,' Brown said. 'I'm just excited about the roster. I'm excited about the things that we're going to put in place here and where we could go with the guys that we have.' The Knicks went 51-31 last season and have one of the strongest starting fives in the league, headlined by All-NBA selections Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. They would have gone into next season as one of the favorites in the East if they brought back their same team. Instead, team president Leon Rose and owner James Dolan decided they needed to change coaches as they continue searching for their first championship since 1973. 'Our goal, starting with Mr. Dolan to Leon to the players all the way down to the fans, is to build a sustainable, winning culture that produces championships. That's why I'm here,' Brown said. 'I'm fortunate to know what it takes to create that success: a lot of hard work, a high level of commitment and a focus on today.' Brown talked about wanting to win and called New York 'a great place that has like thinking.' He is eager to build a partnership with Rose, the former player agent who represented LeBron James when he played for Brown in Cleveland. 'And then looking at the roster and the reality of it is, Ro said, 'We better move to New York because I'm a foodie,' Brown said, referring to his fiancee who was seated in the front row. 'So when you combine all those things, it was a no-brainer for me.' Brown is 454-304 in 11 seasons, winning NBA Coach of the Year honors in 2009 with Cleveland and 2023 in Sacramento, when he led the Kings to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. They fired him 1 1/2 seasons later. The Knicks equally valued his success as an assistant coach, winning an NBA title in 2003 under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio and three more championships under Steve Kerr in Golden State. He also led the Nigerian team to an upset victory over the U.S. in a pre-Olympic exhibition game in 2021. 'When I was in San Antonio with David (Robinson) and Tim (Duncan), it was about playing inside-out, and now fast-forward to my time with Steve it's about pace and space and that's where the game is,' Brown said. 'If you can't evolve you're going to get left behind, and so I feel like I'm trying to do that and hopefully we'll be able to bring some of that here.' Brown believes he takes over a team that can play fast like he prefers, but also has the versatility to play other styles thanks to Brunson. He added that the Knicks' success in the postseason shows their potential. The road to go even further next season is open for the Knicks, with Indiana and Boston likely to be weakened after stars Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum sustained Achilles tendon injuries in the postseason. But Brown said there is plenty of work to do. 'They're a lot of good teams out there. Doesn't matter if those guys are injured or not,' Brown said. 'At the end of the day, teams are going to find ways to win. So we don't feel like it's going to be any easier just because of injuries.' ___
USA Today
25 minutes ago
- USA Today
Wimbledon Betting Odds and Match Previews for July 8, 2025, Men's Singles
A showdown between world No. 61 Cameron Norrie and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz highlights today's action in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, with two matches total taking place. The 29-year-old Norrie is 23-16 this year, and still seeking his first tournament victory. Alcaraz has posted a 46-5 record on the year, capturing five tournament titles. For a breakdown of the two Wimbledon matches today, dive into our betting preview below. Tennis odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Tuesday at 2:14 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Today's matches at Wimbledon How to live stream Wimbledon You can stream Wimbledon live on ESPN+. Sign up now to access live sports, exclusive programming and more.
