CLEVELAND — Following a surprise 44-38 campaign that saw them make it to the NBA's play-in tournament, most expected the Cavaliers to contend this season for their first playoff spot in five years.
Those expectations have suddenly been altered for the better.
Thursday's reports that the Cavs have acquired three-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz have sent shockwaves through the NBA. The 25-year-old will join an already talented young core that includes point guard Darius Garland, center Jarrett Allen, and forward Evan Mobley, along with a solid supporting cast off the bench.
Similar to the return of LeBron James and arrival of Kevin Love back in 2014, many feel this could complete Cleveland's journey back from the league's cellar to contending status, and oddsmakers seem to believe that, as well. According to renowned sportsbook BetOnline, the Cavaliers now have the 12th-best odds of any team to win the 2023 NBA championship at 25-1, up from 125-1 right before the trade went down.
In the Eastern Conference — which the Cavs won four years in a row from 2015-18 — the team's odds have improved from No. 10 at 60-1 to No. 6 at 12-1, still behind the title-favorite Boston Celtics and other powerhouses like the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets. Cleveland's over/under win total also rose from 43.5 to 46.5.
The Cavaliers won the NBA championship just six years ago but went into a tailspin after James left for Los Angeles in the summer of 2018, losing 73% of their games over a three-season stretch prior to last year's turnaround. They were briefly considered title contenders by some simulations last winter before a rash of late injuries forced them into the play-in round, where their run ended with losses to Brooklyn and the Atlanta Hawks.
Despite going to the playoffs nine times over the last 17 years, the Cavs have not been there without James on the roster since 1998. Utah could be getting a taste of those rebuild doldrums now, with BetOnline now predicting a lowly 27-win season.
Of course, if you are reading this and live in Ohio, these numbers are "for entertainment purposes only," as sports gambling isn't expected to be legal in the state until midnight on Jan. 1. The Cavaliers season officially tips off Oct. 19 in Toronto.