The NBA has seen a mind-boggling $4.3 billion in contracts signed and extended this offseason, on top of 34 trades shuffling over 90 players, including 11 All-Stars, plus a frankly ludicrous number of future draft picks. That’s a mountain of business to sift through before the 2026-27 season even tips off. Yet, as we head into October 14, 2026, BetMGM has identified just nine teams with championship odds of 25-to-1 or better, a group that includes 10 of last season’s 15 All-NBA members but also carries some serious questions about their paths to contention.
Offseason Mania: Billions, Baffling Moves, and Brutal Punishments
Seriously, where do you even begin with an offseason like that? We’re talking $2.5 billion dropped in free agency, another $1.8 billion locked up in 21 extensions of existing deals. Victor Wembanyama’s five-year, $255 million not-quite-supermax deal headlined those extensions, showing just how much teams are investing in their future. But it wasn’t all sunshine and max contracts. The league’s leading scorer actually chose to go to,and commutes to,Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers got hit with the stiffest punishment in NBA history. It’s a complete whirlwind, and it sets up a wild season where everyone’s trying to figure out if these colossal investments will actually pay off in June.
Thunder Storm: MVP Power vs. Roster Shuffle
Let’s kick things off with a team that went deep last year and is looking for more: the Oklahoma City Thunder. They’re sitting at +260 odds, and honestly, you can see why they’re in the conversation. How about having the league’s two-time reigning Most Valuable Player in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? That’s a pretty sweet starting point. These guys went the distance with Wemby and Co. in the Western Conference finals, losing a two-possession game in the final two minutes, and they did it while their second and third-best offensive creators, All-NBA wing Jalen Williams and breakout guard Ajay Mitchell, were banged up. Both are back and healthy, which should absolutely help OKC keep that top-six offensive efficiency they’ve had for three years running. Plus, Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren are back to anchor what PBP Stats calls the NBA’s best defense, allowing nine fewer points per 100 possessions than league average last season. That’s the largest differential in 30 years! You can’t ignore that kind of defensive dominance.
But here’s the kicker: they’re not rolling into this year with the same continuity. To chop down their luxury tax bill, they traded away longtime point-of-attack linchpin Luguentz Dort, sharpshooting guard Isaiah Joe, and reserve swingman Aaron Wiggins. Those guys were vital, and losing them means the Thunder will have to figure out how to maintain that top-tier play without some key pieces. It’s a risk, no doubt, but with their MVP and an All-Defensive selection still in the mix, they’re banking on star power and that suffocating defense to carry them.
This league is absolutely wild, and we’re just getting started. Every one of these nine squads has a shot, but they’ve all got ghosts to exorcise and questions to answer before June. Get ready for an absolute slugfest, because if the offseason business is any indication, the 2026-27 NBA season is going to be pure chaos from tip-off to the final buzzer.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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