Heat’s NBA Finals Odds Collapse After Damian Lillard Trade

The Miami Heat’s odds to win the NBA Finals fell from +750 to +2000 after Damian Lillard joined the Milwaukee Bucks.
Lillard requested a trade specifically to the Heat, but the two teams were unable to work out a deal for the seven-time All-Star.
The Milwaukee Bucks acquired Damian Lillard in a three-team trade with the Portland Trailblazers and the Phoenix Suns.

MILWAUKEE – The Portland Trailblazers traded Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee, a move that shakes up the NBA Finals betting board. Damian Lillard originally requested a trade to the Miami Heat, but that request was not granted.

Instead, Lillard will suit up for another title-contending team in Milwaukee. Trading for Damian Lillard made the Milwaukee Bucks the legal sports betting favorite to win the 2024 NBA Finals.

2024 NBA Finals Odds

Milwaukee Bucks +375
Denver Nuggets +500
Boston Celtics +550
Phoenix Suns +650
Golden State Warriors +1200
Los Angeles Lakers +1200
Los Angeles Clippers +2000
Miami Heat +2000
Philadelphia 76ers +2200
Dallas Mavericks +2500

Before the trade, the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat each had +750 odds to win the NBA Championship in 2024. Oddsmakers anticipated Lillard to join the Heat and show Miami’s chances of winning a championship without him are much lower.

Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat showed their disproval of the trade on social media, where Butler joked that the Bucks were tampering.

What he said https://t.co/S6Diyx8s5z

— Tyler Herro (@raf_tyler) September 27, 2023

Butler’s reaction represented the fall off in legal Florida sports betting odds for the Heat to win the 2024 Finals. Miami Heat fans and players are upset they couldn’t land a superstar in Damian Lillard.

Big Changes In Odds To Win Eastern Conference

Odds to win the Eastern Conference prior to the Lillard trade favored the Boston Celtics (+210), then the Milwaukee Bucks (+275) and Miami Heat (+325). Now, even the Philadelphia 76ers are ahead of the Heat’s long +900 odds to win the Eastern Conference.

NBA Eastern Conference Odds

Milwaukee Bucks +160
Boston Celtics +225
Philadelphia 76ers +750
Miami Heat +900

Damian Lillard will likely make his Bucks debut on Oct. 26 against the Philadelphia 76ers. There are currently no odds at legal NBA betting sites on the 76ers vs Bucks game in wake of the trade for Damian Lillard.

Miami plays Boston the next day and are 4.5-point underdogs in the game.

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Zachary Kelley

Zach graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Writing, Editing, and Media. Zach is interested in the legalization aspect of sports betting and enjoys participating in DFS. He has a passion for sports writing and most enjoys writing about football and baseball both professional and collegiate.