The Milwaukee Bucks will have the opportunity to do something they haven’t done in 50 years – defend an NBA title. Milwaukee returns the bulk of its championship lineup including two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The rest of the division made some offseason moves and added talent through the draft, but will it be enough to catch Milwaukee? Here’s a look at the 2021 NBA Central Division futures odds and picks.
2021 Milwaukee Bucks Team Preview and Futures Odds
Odds to Win Central Division: -900
The Bucks return the core – Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday – of their championship team. They lose Bryn Forbes and PJ Tucker but gain Rodney Hood and Semi Ojeleye. Milwaukee won the Central last year by 12 games over Indiana.
With what Milwaukee has coming back, it’s hard to see the rest of the division catching up to them so quickly. That’s why the Bucks are an overwhelming favorite at -900 to win the Central again in 2021-22.
2021 Chicago Bulls Team Preview and Futures Odds
Odds to Win Central Division: +950
The Bulls, which finished 15 games back and in third place last season, made the necessary improvements to attempt to catch Milwaukee. Zach LaVine (27.4 ppg) is an All-Star and Nikola Vucevic (23.4 ppg, 11.7 rpg) is one of the most underrated big men in the game.
The Bulls went out in the offseason and added another star in DeMar DeRozan who averaged 21.6 points a game last year in San Antonio. Chicago also picked up Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso plus they drafted point guard Ayo Dosunmu.
If there is a team that can track down the Bucks and have a chance at the division title, it’s the Bulls who are listed at +950.
2021 Indiana Pacers Team Preview and Futures Odds
Odds to Win Central Division: +1100
The Pacers fell short last season in the play-in tournament. A big part of that was due to a regression on defense. Indiana’s biggest pick up in the offseason was a new head coach. That would be veteran Rick Carlisle who will surely fix the Pacers defensive woes.
Indiana (+1100) didn’t make much noise in the offseason free agent market. They did acquire rookie Isaiah Jackson and shooting guard Chris Duarte via the draft. Malcolm Brogdon (21.2 ppg) and Domantas Sabonis (20.3. ppg, 12.0 rpg) make this team go, but the Pacers just aren’t deep enough to challenge the Bucks.
2021 Detroit Pistons Team Preview and Futures Odds
Odds to Win Central Division: +15000
The Pistons will have the 2021 NBA No. 1 pick at point guard this season. Cade Cunningham will start immediately as Detroit (+15000) tries to rebuild. The Pistons also took Isaiah Livers, Luke Garza, and Balsa Kopriva in the draft. All could see considerable time this season.
Regardless, the Pistons will be young and years away from even challenging for a Central Division title.
2021 Cleveland Cavaliers Team Preview and Futures Odds
Odds to Win Central Division: +15000
Like Detroit, Cleveland is a huge longshot at +15000 to win the NBA Central Division. They are also in a state of rebuilding. There have been rumors of a Colin Sexton trade, but that hasn’t happened.
The Cavs did trade for 6-11 Lauri Markkanen and they drafted skilled big man Evan Mobley out of USC with their first pick. Cleveland was the lowest-scoring team in the NBA last year averaging just 103.8 points per game. That may improve, but the Cavs are a long way from winning the division.
2022 NBA Central Division Predictions
This is not an attractive bet, but betting on a longshot to win the NBA Central Division isn’t a great idea either. This is Milwaukee’s division to lose. There’s a reason why the Bucks won the division by 12 games. They are that good.
PREDICTION: MILWAUKEE -900
Don’t miss our 2022 NBA Eastern Conference predictions and 2022 NBA Western Conference predictions.
