2022 NBA Finals odds: Warriors solid favorites over Celtics and already taking betting action to win 2023 title

The Golden State Warriors are -155 favorites to beat the Boston Celtics (+135) in the 2022 NBA Finals to win their first NBA title since 2018, and Caesars Sportsbook oddsmakers have posted odds for next season as well. The Warriors are +400 favorites and already have taken a fairly significant wager. Brooklyn is a +600 second favorite and Boston third at +650.

All of the Warriors' key players are under contract through at least next season. Kevon Looney, Otto Porter Jr. and Gary Payton II are unrestricted free agents; none would be a huge loss. Don't forget that promising young center James Wiseman, the former second overall pick, didn't even play this year and he could essentially replace Looney.

The team already is projected to be far over the 2022-23 salary cap, so ownership is going to be paying a massive luxury tax bill regardless. One Colorado bettor has already put down $10,000 on the Warriors at +400 to win it all in 2023. That would return $40,000 and is the biggest 2023 NBA championship future taken thus far at Caesars Sportsbook.

"I think it was a no-brainer to have the Warriors as the favorite," said Adam Pullen, Assistant Director of Trading at Caesars Sportsbook. "When they're healthy, you can't argue with their pedigree over the last decade. They also have a lot of good young players, [James] Wiseman hasn't even really contributed yet and he was a top-3 pick just a couple years ago. Everything points to the Warriors being the favorite."

The Nets opened as +250 title favorites for the 2021-22 season but of course were swept out of the first round by the Celtics (Brooklyn was the only team this postseason to not win a game). The James Harden-for-Ben Simmons trade frankly was a bust for both Brooklyn and Philadelphia. Will Kyrie Irving even re-sign with the team? Reports emerged last week that the Nets were not interested in giving him a long-term deal because he's so unpredictable off the court. Irving has a $36.5 million player option that he can decline this summer to become an unrestricted free agent.

Phoenix (+750), Milwaukee (+750) and the Los Angeles Clippers (+800) round out the 2023 favorites. We could see the Celtics jump to the top spot if they convincingly beat the Warriors in this year's Finals. The Clippers will get Kawhi Leonard back after he missed all of the 2021-22 campaign.

"I'd say it's more wide open at the top now than it was in previous seasons," Pullen said. "The Suns were the title favorite at the end of the season. Health was the big issue for the Clippers, and if Kawhi [Leonard] is back, that throws them into the mix. It just seems more competitive. Usually with the NBA, you can count the title contenders on one hand. Here, you can look at 10 teams that you can make a legitimate case for."

Miami is +1200 for next year after losing in the East Finals. The Lakers and new coach Darvin Ham are +2200. Orlando, Sacramento, Houston and Oklahoma City are the four long shots at +100000.

The only team yet to get a single bet to win the 2023 NBA title? Utah at +4000 amid rumors of major changes with that franchise – specifically coach Quin Snyder stepping down and a possible trade of Rudy Gobert.  

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