The offseason is often the best time to invest in NBA futures at the top-rated sportsbooks. Why? Because we can use the amount of cap space and trade assets the teams have to see which teams will improve the most before the season starts.
Oftentimes, this potential isn’t truly factored into the number. There’s no reason to take the favorite in the conference right now.
Currently, we are speculating for a lucrative payout on a long shot. If we are looking to invest in a team like the Oklahoma City Thunder, we might wait until they hit a slump or suffer a key injury during the season to get a better price.
Still, there’s no reason to bet a favorite right now and tie up your money for the whole season. There is, however, plenty of reason to invest in a long shot when we know the price will decrease at Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review).
Let’s take advantage of our knowledge of these teams right now to find the best lucrative long shots to make a winning NBA pick.
Why the Houston Rockets Are a Smart Bet to Win the Western Conference in 2026
The Houston Rockets finished second in the Western Conference last season and added former MVP Kevin Durant. No move made more sense this offseason.
The Rockets played excellent team defense but struggled on the offensive end. The Rockets coach is a defensive wizard but runs what is considered to be a simplistic offense. However, you do not need a sophisticated game plan for Kevin Durant to score. Simply put, give him the ball and let him work in isolation.
At 7 ft tall, few individual defenders in the league can pressure Durant’s jump shot so he can get it from wherever he wants. If you send Durant double teams, he has a high basketball IQ and is a gifted passer and will find that right teammate in order to make the defense pay for trying to double him. He is also a fine defender, so the Rockets will not lose anything with him on the court on the defensive end.
That said, it really is no coincidence how the Rockets are one of the favorites to win the Western Conference.Â
The Rockets also have plenty of draft picks in order to make a mid-season acquisition. The Rockets will be able to make solid offers for any valuable player in the mid-season trade market. This also gives them an opportunity to vault to the top.
Ime Udoka has taken a young, talented team to the NBA Finals before on the strength of their defense. He has another opportunity to do just that.
Kevin Durant will not be required to carry the load like he did in Phoenix, giving him more opportunity to rest, thus allowing him to be more effective in crunch time. Do not overlook this key addition.
Since it’s being priced at around +500, you can bet the Houston Rockets to win the Western Conference.
Don’t Sleep on the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Race
I personally am surprised that the team that has made it to the Western Conference Finals the last two seasons is this low in the odds.
Even though they have proven they are the second-best team over the last two years, the Timberwolves are given the sixth-best chance to win the conference.
On top of that, the Timberwolves returned their key players. Anthony Edwards, for example, is a star and will continue to improve, as he has gotten better every season. Edwards combines unreal athleticism with an excellent work ethic and competitiveness. He has the best mindset of any young player in the league today and is out for blood.
That said, it seems like the Timberwolves’ line on their total regular-season wins is no coincidence:
The Timberwolves are excellent at making moves around the margins and could also acquire one extra wing during the mid-season trade market. Although they do not have the cap space and the draft picks of the Houston Rockets, they still do have enough ammunition to grab a role player or two during the trade deadline.
The team already made the Western Conference Finals, and they are only going to be better by the time the trade deadline is over.
The Timberwolves do have some issues, mainly the problems with Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert in the playoffs, but they will have another season to work on these things. However, of we combine Edwards’ ascension and the continued growth of Naz Reid, the Timberwolves have an opportunity to make the final step.
Teams very rarely go from worst to first in the NBA; it’s usually a gradual process. By making the Western Conference Finals the last two seasons, the Timberwolves have shown that they are ready to ascend to the next level. This price is way wrong. There’s no way the Timberwolves have less of a shot than either of the LA teams.
The Timberwolves have proved it. They are just in a small media market that doesn’t get a lot of attention. Priced at +850, take advantage of the oversight of the NBA media against small markets and bet on the Minnesota Timberwolves to win the Western Conference.
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
