The Cavaliers title chances rest on the strength of their best players.
The Cleveland Cavaliers made a calculated move at the deadline by adding De’Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks without giving up a future first-round pick or promising rookie Jaylon Tyson. It wasn’t an all-in move, but it’s one that if it pans out, should give the Cavs a better chance to win the NBA Finals.
That logic, however, isn’t shared by Fan Duel.
The Cavaliers’ had the third-best odds at +850 to win the NBA Finals before the deadline. Those odds are still third best, but they’re now +900 to win it all.
The two teams in front of Cleveland, the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder, saw their odds shift in the other direction after the deadline even though neither made a move. The Celtics went from +210 at the start of February and are now +175. The Thunder went from +230 to +200.
The trade for Hunter may make the Cavs a better team, but seemingly in the eyes of FanDuel, it doesn’t make them better suited to get through a team like the Celtics or Thunder to win a title. While that’s harsh, it’s a bit understandable.
While Hunter fills a void at the Cavs wing, their title chances will come down to how their best players play, specifically, Evan Mobley.
Mobley is the key to unlocking the Cavs on both sides of the floor. His expanded offensive toolbox and ability to beat mismatches have shown through in some of Cleveland’s biggest wins this season. His outstanding performance against the Thunder in their January win showed how good he could be. Oklahoma City simply didn’t have an answer for him as he finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Their matchup the next week showed how bad things could go if he had an off night. The Cavs lost by 20 as Mobley provided just 5 points and 3 rebounds.
Similar versions of this opinion could be shared about any of the other members of their core four as well. There’s few scenarios where this team advances past Boston or the New York Knicks without strong contributions from Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Jarrett Allen.
Ultimately, the Cavs will likely go as far as their best players will take them. Their lack of positive movement in the odds despite making what was widely considered to be a good trade aligns with that thinking.
Be sure to head over to FanDuel to check out the full odds for NBA futures bets.