The NBA offseason had nearly as many headlines this offseason as ones that occurred during the on-court play. Each team is now ready to put their offseason moves to the test and see how things stack up on the hardwood.
With the blank canvas of the 2024-25 season ready to be painted, there are plenty of new expectations. The Celtics will look to defend their title, the new class of rookies will look to begin building their legacy, and plenty of other players will look to take their games to new heights.
Here are five futures bets to consider for the 2024-25 NBA season on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Tyrese Maxey Over 25.1 Points Per Game: (-115)
The Philadelphia 76ers are in the conversation for the biggest winners of the offseason. Paul George will headline their free-agent additions while names like Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond, and Guerschon Yabusele will all make a notable impact this year. While the new faces are worth noting, don’t forget about the first-time All-Star and last year’s Most Improved Player Award winner: Tyrese Maxey.
At 23 years old, Maxey has taken significant strides forward each season in the NBA. Last season, Maxey averaged 25.9 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game. The Kentucky product was tasked with carrying the offense following Joel Embiid’s knee injury, which kept him out the second half of the season. While Maxey’s efficiency numbers took a dip during this stretch, there were a lot of positive takeaways. As the team returns to full strength, expect Maxey’s shooting splits to improve. Don’t forget that the former 21st overall pick has been top five in three-point percentage across the NBA twice already in his four-year career.
In addition, expect Maxey’s role to be bigger than most are expecting. The Sixers clearly are being proactive about their management of Joel Embiid and Paul George heading into the season. The goal is to have a fully healthy playoff run and the pathway toward this is for both aging stars with injury history to have plenty of rest. Expect Maxey to be the beneficiary of these opportunities and to be depended on for significant scoring outputs regularly. Count on the All-Star to at least match last year’s output of 25.9 points per game and clear this season-long average.
Tyrese Maxey to average 28+ Points Per Game: (+500)
On top of just taking Tyrese Maxey to replicate his scoring output from last season, I expect him to take a stride forward this year. His combination of breakaway speed, finishing ability, and reliable jump shot makes Maxey a true three-level scorer. Let’s not forget that the last time he was playing high-level basketball, Maxey averaged 29.8 points per game against the Knicks in the playoffs.
Philadelphia has kept it close to the vest how much they expect Joel Embiid and Paul George to play this season. But Embiid did not participate in any 5-on-5 action during training camp or preseason and Paul George suffered a bone bruise due to a knee hyperextension in just his second live action in a Sixers uniform. Both guys have a lengthy injury list that has prevented them from being at their best when the lights are the brightest.
This leaves plenty of available offense for Tyrese Maxey to capitalize on. While the +500 odds indicate this is a big swing, there is a realistic world in which Maxey ends up the Sixers’ leading scorer this season. Embiid has spoken openly about his desire to play more team-friendly basketball and grow as a playmaker. While George will be a valuable wing scorer, he also has been clear about his intent to fit into whatever role is asked of him.
Matas Buzelis Rookie of the Year: (+1000)
The Rookie of the Year race is more open this season compared to most years. While I dove into the outlook for each of the top candidates in an article here, Matas Buzelis is my prediction for the award.
The 6-foot-10 forward spent last season with the G League Ignite and was a surprising name to fall on draft night. He ultimately was selected with the 11th overall pick by the Chicago Bulls and will remain in the city in which he grew up. Buzelis also lands in an ideal basketball situation as he can grow into a key member of the Bulls’ young core and will have the opportunity to prove himself as a foundational piece of the future. The Bulls are in limbo as an organization, but this provides a unique opportunity as he will have a day-one opportunity on a team that isn’t a complete NBA bottom-feeder.
On the court, Buzelis is a versatile forward with an eye-popping game. He is an impressive athlete who does not hesitate to rise up and dunk on opponents. Buzelis has been a streaky shooter and this will be the swing skill that dictates his available minutes and upside. But, he is a versatile defender who can block shots or switch out on the perimeter. Expect Buzelis to surprise some people this season and for the once highly-touted recruit to make his case for being the best rookie in this class.
Brooklyn Nets Over 19.5 Wins (-115)
The Brooklyn Nets enter this season with a season-long over/under of just 19.5 on the season. This is the lowest number across any team in the NBA. While this is not a glowing review of how good the Nets will be, this number seems a bit too low for their situation.
Last season the Nets went 32-50. Most notably, they elected to trade away Mikal Bridges to the Knicks this offseason and embrace a full rebuild. Jordi Fernandez took over as head coach and their roster remains a bit in disarray.
The biggest X-Factor will be the status of Ben Simmons who has played a total of just 57 games since the 2020-21 season. While the track record for the three-time All-Star is not great, it should be noted that there is a contract on the line at the season’s conclusion and his NBA future is murkier than ever before. Simmons has been active in the preseason this year but has not shown the level of athleticism he once possessed.
Looking deeper on the roster, Cam Thomas will have a permanent green light and will surely make the most of it. Cam Johnson remains on the team after averaging 13.4 points per game last year. Nic Claxton, Shake Milton, Dorian Finney-Smith, Dennis Schröder, and Bojan Bogdanovic each also will each make an impact throughout the year. There also are a number of young talents like Jalen Wilson, Ziaire Williams, Day’Ron Sharpe, and Keon Johnson, who are each looking for their breakout opportunity.
Simply put, this is a bad NBA roster, but maybe not to the level it was hoped. There are too many competent NBA players on the roster for them to lose over 75% of their games. Expect the Nets to be in the mix for the fewest wins on the season, but the 19.5-win total is too low.
San Antonio Spurs to Make the Playoffs: (+350)
There are high expectations for Victor Wembanyama as he heads into his second season in the NBA. Last year’s number-one overall pick is the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year at -170 odds and ranks seventh in MVP odds at +1700 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
The Spurs allowed their young star to play through his mistakes as a rookie and now have begun to build around him. San Antonio added Chris Paul and Stephon Castle this offseason which will provide a massive upgrade from the level of point guard play that was seen last year. This issue plagued the Spurs’ offense and Wembanyama’s impact in a major way. In addition, Harrison Barnes will make an impact and Devin Vassell and Keldon Johson will continue on their developmental paths.
Expect the Spurs to take a stride forward this year and at least be in the play-in mix. With a talent like Wembanyama, I like their chances of sneaking into the postseason and being ahead of his expected developmental curve.
Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app on Apple or Google!
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
