Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks co-favorites to win NBA title after Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard moves
On Sunday, October 1, the Boston Celtics traded Robert Williams, Malcolm Brogdon, a 2024 first-round pick (from the Golden State Warriors) and a 2029 first-round pick to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jrue Holiday. This move was made possible by the Milwaukee Bucks sending Holiday to the Blazers in a deal for Damian Lillard. And the interesting thing about it is that DraftKings Sportsbook now has Boston at +400 to win the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, which makes the Celtics and the Bucks co-favorites.
Current NBA Finals odds after Jrue Holiday is traded to the Boston Celtics:
?? MIL Bucks: +400 ?? BOS Celtics: +400 ?? DEN Nuggets: +500 ?? PHO Suns: +600 pic.twitter.com/1Qfy3Jsg8y— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) October 1, 2023
Prior to acquiring Holiday, Boston was listed at +500 to win the NBA title. So, the oddsmakers clearly liked the Celtics getting the two-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA First Team defender. And I personally believe that the Eastern Conference now runs through the Celtics.
Earlier in the offseason, the Celtics traded Marcus Smart, one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, in a three-team deal that brought back Washington Wizards big man Kristaps Porzingis. At the time, people were worried about the Celtics losing a player with Smart’s tenacity on the defensive end. But Holiday will be the perfect replacement for Smart, as he’s one of the best guard defenders in basketball. He also brings some of Smart’s defensive versatility, as he can guard anything from point guards to some of the league’s smaller forwards. Holiday ranked in the 99th percentile in perimeter isolation defense and ball screen navigation last season, according to BBall-Index. He’s one of the league’s premier point-of-attack defenders, and he’s remarkable at defending the pick and roll.