Now that the 2025-26 NBA trade deadline is officially in the books, one name stands out above the rest when it comes to shaking up the championship landscape: James Harden.
The 2018 MVP and 11-time All-Star made yet another high-profile move-this time from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Cleveland Cavaliers-and it didn’t just make headlines, it moved betting lines. Unlike fellow future Hall of Famer Anthony Davis, who was also dealt at the deadline but landed on a non-contender, Harden’s arrival in Cleveland immediately boosted the Cavs’ title odds and sent ripple effects across the league.
Let’s take a closer look at the biggest risers and fallers in the betting markets after the dust settled.
Risers
Cleveland Cavaliers: +1300 (from 30-1)
Let’s not overcomplicate this-James Harden is the reason for this surge.
Yes, the Cavs also brought in Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, but Harden is the engine here. He gives Cleveland a legitimate playmaker to pair with Donovan Mitchell, and suddenly, the Cavs have a backcourt with both firepower and postseason experience.
They were already a tough out in the East. Now?
They’re a real problem.
Minnesota Timberwolves: +1600 (from 25-1)
Minnesota made a savvy addition in Ayo Dosunmu, who’s been having a breakout year in Chicago.
The key here is they didn’t give up any core rotation players to get him. The Wolves are already one of the West’s most balanced teams, and Dosunmu adds even more versatility on both ends of the floor.
It’s a quiet but meaningful upgrade.
New York Knicks: +1300 (from 16-1)
This wasn’t a major jump, and it likely has more to do with their recent on-court performance than deadline moves.
Still, adding Jose Alvarado gives them another gritty, defensive-minded guard off the bench-exactly the kind of depth that pays dividends in the playoffs. The Knicks are building a roster that can win ugly, and that’s a compliment in the postseason.
Charlotte Hornets: +15000 (from +100000)
No, the Hornets didn’t suddenly become title contenders, but they were one of the most active teams at the deadline.
Tyus Jones and Coby White bring much-needed guard depth, and the team is clearly trying to turn the page. Going from +100000 to +15000 is a massive leap, even if it’s still a long shot.
But it signals a shift in direction-and maybe, just maybe, a foundation for the future.
Detroit Pistons: +1400 (from +1600)
This is a modest bump, but one worth watching.
Kevin Huerter is the type of player who can quietly change an offense. If he can rediscover his shooting rhythm, he gives Detroit a badly needed floor-spacer to open things up for their young core.
The Pistons aren’t making headlines, but they’re trending in the right direction.
Fallers
Orlando Magic: +6600 (from +5000)
Orlando’s slide isn’t about what they did-it’s about what they didn’t do.
Sitting eighth in the East and coming off a sluggish first half of the season, the Magic stood pat at the deadline. That lack of urgency didn’t inspire much confidence, at least in the eyes of oddsmakers.
Los Angeles Lakers: +5000 (from +3500)
The Lakers added Luke Kennard, which on paper helps their spacing.
But in reality, it’s a small move for a team that needed something bigger. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis still anchoring the roster, the Lakers are always in the conversation-but this deadline didn’t do much to move the needle.
San Antonio Spurs: +1600 (from +1100)
The Spurs are still viewed as contenders, but their lack of action at the deadline cost them some momentum.
Standing pat might have been the right long-term move, but in the short term, it dinged their odds. They’re still dangerous, just slightly less so in the eyes of Vegas.
Los Angeles Clippers: +25000 (from +8000)
This was the biggest drop of the deadline, and it’s not hard to see why.
Trading away James Harden and Ivica Zubac signals a pivot-maybe not a full rebuild, but certainly a retool. It might pay off down the road, but in the here and now, the Clippers are taking a step back.
Atlanta Hawks: +50000 (from +20000)
This one’s a bit of a head-scratcher.
The Hawks moved on from Kristaps Porzingis-who’s been largely unavailable-and Luke Kennard, but brought in a solid group: Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield, Gabe Vincent, and Jock Landale. On paper, that looks like a win.
But the oddsmakers clearly weren’t convinced, and the Hawks take a steep drop as a result.
Bottom Line:
The trade deadline always brings surprises, but this year it brought seismic shifts.
James Harden’s move to Cleveland didn’t just reshape the Cavs-it reshaped the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, teams like the Clippers and Hawks are left answering questions about direction and identity.
Whether these moves pan out in May and June is still to be seen. But for now, the odds tell a story: contenders are separating, and the margin for error is getting thinner by the day.