With the 2024-25 NBA season having just ended, it’s time to think about the 2025-26 season. As big things happen throughout the summer, we’ll hit on the news and betting ramifications on our website and live VSiN programming. While we hit on sides, totals and player props during the season, playing the futures market is a great way to profit on the NBA. Well, odds are already out for next season, so why wait to start making some plays? I already dished out some solid title futures a couple of weeks ago, tipping the Rockets at 16-1 and Magic at 45-1 before those teams went out and made massive deals. At DraftKings Sportsbook, Houston is now down at +750 after having acquired Kevin Durant, and Orlando is just 22-1 after trading for Desmond Bane. I’m not done yet. I think there’s some serious value on a few longshots to win their respective conferences, so keep reading for three darts worth throwing right now.

Toronto Raptors to win Eastern Conference (75-1 at FanDuel)

I’m fully aware that it sounds a little crazy to suggest Toronto as a factor in the Eastern Conference next season. This team was 30-52 in 2024-25. However, Scottie Barnes, Immauel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl and Gradey Dick combined to miss 143 games. That’s a significant number for five of the team’s most important players. Still, the Raptors finished the season 17th in the NBA in adjusted defensive rating (113.8), according to Dunks & Threes. Head coach Darko Rajakovic has done a good job of installing a sound defensive system in Toronto, and the offense should take a step forward in 2025-26.

Just having guys like Barnes, Quickley, Barrett and Dick healthy should help the Raptors creep closer to league average on the offensive end. But the big change will be the addition of Brandon Ingram. Toronto acquired the potent scorer at the deadline, but he was shut down for the season with an injury to his left ankle. Ingram certainly has his fair share of haters, but there’s no denying the fact that he’s a walking bucket. Ingram is one of the best mid-range iso scorers in the league, and he was knocking down 37.4% of his 3s — on increased volume — before getting hurt last year. He’s exactly the type of player that can lift a team that needs additional firepower.

This is just a team with real depth right now. In addition to the six players I already mentioned, the team also has Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobe Walter, Ochai Agbaji and Jonathan Mogbo as rotation pieces that are already under contract. There’s simply a lot of guys on this roster that can play playoff minutes.

The Raptors also happen to have the ninth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. They’ll either take a player with big-time potential, or Masai Ujiri will deal that pick for a short-term upgrade — which is something the Toronto president of basketball operations is said to be looking at.

With some more growth from Barnes, who is underrated as a rising star in this league, and better injury luck, it just isn’t hard to imagine this team playing its way into the top half of a depleted Eastern Conference. This might not be a team with a lot of star power, and sometimes fans and media members can be guilty of ignoring what’s happening up north. But the Celtics and Pacers will be without their star players next year, as Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton suffered torn Achilles tendons in the playoffs. The Bucks are also dealing with the same thing with Damian Lillard having also torn his Achilles in the postseason. There’s real opportunity in the East, and the Raptors could be a little Pacers-like in their ability to mix and match lineups with nine or 10 guys that can contribute. They also have a strong home-court advantage.

At the very least, this is a team to be looking at with Over plays when win totals are released. But given the state of the East, I like the idea of throwing a little something on a few dark horses. The Raptors are one of the two that I’m targeting. Tossing 0.25 units on Toronto should be harmless, and it could end up paying off if things break right.

Atlanta Hawks to win Eastern Conference (90-1 at FanDuel)

I’m surprised the Hawks have more favorable odds than the Raptors, as I genuinely believe they’re easier to sell as a true contender. For starters, Atlanta was a 40-win team in 2024-25, and the team had a shot at making the postseason despite the fact that Jalen Johnson missed the second half of the season. Johnson emerged as a borderline All-Star last year, averaging 18.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. So, the fact that the Hawks were without him for such a long time really did impact the outcome of the season. We actually saw this team beat the Knicks and put up a fight against the Bucks in what was a bit of a breakout run in the Emirates NBA Cup. And according to Cleaning The Glass, Atlanta scored 126.1 points per 100 possessions when Johnson played with Trae Young, Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu. Well, that should be four of the team’s five starters on Day 1 of the 2025-26 season, and Zaccharie Risacher, the top pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, will be the fifth.

The Hawks are finally making the move to Okongwu at center, as all indications suggest Clint Capela will sign elsewhere this summer. Okongwu is a little undersized, but he averaged career highs in points (13.4), rebounds (8.9) and assists (2.3) per game. And overall, his energy and ability to be a factor around the basket makes the Hawks better.

It just feels like Atlanta finally has exactly what is required to win around Young. The 26-year-old has always been one of the games most creative playmakers, and we also know he’s capable of getting hot from deep. But given his defensive limitations, he needs the right guys around him. Well, how about a good rim-running center, plus three extremely impactful wings? Okongwu proved to be a great pick-and-roll finisher for Young. Meanwhile, Daniels emerged as one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, while also flashing a bit on offense. Johnson is a do-it-all wing with insane length and athleticism, and he’s only going to get better as he continues to improve his jumper. And while Risacher had some down moments in his rookie season, it’s clear he’s going to be a productive 3-and-D wing very soon.

Atlanta also has some punch off the bench, as Caris LeVert will likely be brought back after averaging 14.9 points per game in 26 games. And the Hawks do have ways to improve this offseason, as they have a $25 million trade exception and two first-round picks (#13 and #22) to play with. If the new front office in Atlanta can turn some of those assets into a legitimate role player or two, the Hawks are going to surprise a lot of people. And perhaps we’ll see something from Kobe Bufkin, who was drafted 15th in 2023 and absolutely lights up the G League.

The Hawks also happen to have a great coach in Quin Snyder. He has a lot of talent to work with, and he should be able to figure out how to use all of it. He has already gotten through to Young a little bit, getting his star to play a little better off the ball — and hunt stats a little less often.

Realistically, it feels like this is Atlanta’s shot at doing something meaningful.

Memphis Grizzlies to win Western Conference (110-1 at DraftKings)

I couldn’t help myself when I saw the price on the Grizzlies to win the Western Conference. I pounced immediately. I understand everything runs through the Thunder, and the Rockets are probably the second-best team in the conference. Memphis also traded Desmond Bane, who averaged at least 21.5 points per game in back-to-back seasons before scoring 19.2 points per game last season. Bane is one of the best 3-point shooters in the league, and replacing him is difficult. But like Jason Giambi, Bane might be replaceable in the aggregate.

The Grizzlies have a good group of shooting guards. Jaylen Wells, the 39th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, was a contender for Rookie of the Year last season, averaging 10.4 points per game and shooting 35.2% from deep while also playing sturdy perimeter defense. Between Wells and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who was acquired in the Bane trade, it’s hard not to like Memphis’ duo of 3-and-D options at the two.

Caldwell-Pope’s lone season with Orlando was a mess. He was signed to be the Magic’s primary floor spacer, and his failures ultimately led to the Bane trade. Caldwell-Pope went from shooting 40.6% from 3 for Denver in 2023-24 to shooting 34.2% for Orlando in 2024-25. But I’m not sure people should be overreacting to one bad season. Caldwell-Pope has shot at least 38.0% from 3 in six of the last eight seasons. He didn’t just forget how to shoot. Perhaps he was just a victim of terrible spacing, as the Magic were the worst shooting team in basketball last year. I know Caldwell-Pope has benefitted from playing off guys like LeBron James and Nikola Jokic throughout his career, but Ja Morant is good at generating good looks for his teammates. Also, Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo is considered a brilliant offensive mind. That said, I can see Caldwell-Pope bouncing back in a big way, and I wouldn’t even be surprised if he ends up living up to the expectations that came with the deal he signed with the Magic. He’s still a sturdy defender, so he’ll be fine if the jumpers comes back around. I also think Cole Anthony can provide a nice little jolt off the bench for Memphis.

If Memphis’ shooting guard spot does end up being alright, it just doesn’t seem crazy to expect a good season from the Grizzlies. After all, they won 48 games a year ago, and they were pretty damn close to being the third-seeded team in the West. It’s really just going to come down to the health of Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. With those two on the floor together last season, Memphis scored 118.9 points per 100 possessions and allowed only 108.1 points per 100 possessions. That +10.8 net rating is in the 93rd percentile in the NBA, according to Cleaning The Glass.

It just feels like we’re writing this team off a little too quickly. Bane is a very good player, but he has never been an All-Star. Also, Zach Kleiman, the team’s general manager, is a sharp basketball mind that will be aggressive this offseason. He now has four additional first-round picks from the Bane trade to go out and improve the roster. If he can find a productive wing, along with a big body that can fill in for an injured Zach Edey, I just don’t think it’s wild to expect this team to be firmly in the playoff picture in 2025-26. And if Morant somehow avoids major injuries, there’s way more upside than just that.

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