Spencer Schultz, whose favorite plays can be seen on PressBoxOnline.com, recently sorted through some futures bets options prior to the beginning of the 2025-26 NBA season.
This has been edited for clarity.
PressBox: What futures bets do you like to look at prior to an NBA season?
Spencer Schultz: I like really just trying to pick a couple teams that ascend. Who’s going to be the team that rises and makes the playoffs? Win totals, who wins 50 games? I think we’re in a [transitional] period in the NBA right now, so that’s something that very much intrigues me. Kind of like in football where the running back is getting hot again, I think teams are worried about being able to play some actual defense and play some post defense, definitely perimeter defense. Desmond Bane was a big trade in the Eastern Conference. Bane ends up going to the Magic in that big deal. The Magic are a defensive-minded team that wants to limit the score and play that way. I think we’re at an interesting point in basketball. I’m really looking at win totals, looking at awards a little bit, players to rank in certain places, things like that.
PB: What teams do you like in the Eastern Conference given the injuries that will keep stars Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum out all year?
SS: I think the East is certainly wide open. Obviously, the Knicks and Cavs are the two teams that stick out. Vegas is looking at it as the Cavs, Knicks and Magic being the three teams. The Pacers and Celtics I don’t expect much out of. Tatum is out. What happens when the Celtics lose someone else? That’s what I always think of. What happens if Jaylen Brown misses 20 games? Would Jaylen Brown be more inclined to not push himself to play? He already has a contract and has achieved success and is waiting for Tatum to get back. Very possible. I don’t think either of those teams are going to surprise or anything like that.
I’m looking at the Knicks as better value than the Cavs. The Knicks quietly went and got Jordan Clarkson, who I think is a really nice depth scoring option, which is important, especially if someone misses time. They also got Guerschon Yabusele in free agency as well, so they’ve got a nice rotational frontcourt guy. They [moved on from] Tom Thibodeau. We’ll see what happens with Mike Brown, but I think they’ve got a great nucleus. I think they’re the most exciting team in the Eastern Conference. I like the value for them to win the conference and get to the Finals.
PB: Do you see any potential surprise teams in the East?
SS: A little bit of an “X” factor in the East would be Kristaps Porzingis and Joel Embiid, the two constantly injured, talented big men. The Sixers were the team that was able to make an unbelievable top-five pick that I think is going to be a huge addition for them in V.J. Edgecombe. I think he’s an awesome, awesome addition for them. Tyrese Maxey can continue to step up. At this point, Embiid is going to miss time. It is what it is. They know that.
If the Sixers can get the one good Embiid year every other year, then I think they’re a serious threat. Jared McCain had a really good start last year. Edgecombe was a huge pick. Embiid and Paul George not having to run the show is a very nice situation, a little bit better than the Mavs in the West with Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis and then they’ve got young Cooper Flagg — a little different than Maxey. I’m looking at them at some value.
PB: What teams do you like in the West?
SS: In the West, I just can never get over the Nuggets. The Nuggets parted ways with Michael Porter Jr. I think that’s a good thing for them. I think they want to play a more efficient, defensive-minded [style with more] spacing on the offensive side of the court. I think what they did in the offseason made a lot of sense. They bring in Cam Johnson and Tim Hardaway Jr., who can both shoot and I think are more efficient shooters. I think Johnson is an awesome addition while letting Porter go. Johnson is a backcourt ball-handler who can lead if Jamal Murray has injury issues, just a good scorer who has range. They brought in Jonas Valančiūnas as well as another frontcourt option, so I really like what the Nuggets did a lot. I’m curious to see how they put it all together.
Of any team in any sport, the Thunder have to have the best dynasty potential right now, but the value betting-wise is just, like, what is there to bet on? The Thunder to win the West? If you’re into that kind of stuff, sure. That just doesn’t excite me quite as much, value-wise. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the favorite [to win MVP]. He could very easily repeat, probably will. If you are the type of person who wants to place a larger wager that is within your means and those tickle you, sure, go ahead and put it on the Thunder. They probably win the West. They probably finish with the best or second-best record in the NBA. They are so unbelievably fast. They are still gaining experience. It’s wild to think about the picks they still have and all the picks they’ve been able to make the last couple of years.
PB: What award futures bets do you like?
SS: I really love the value of Amen Thompson in Houston for Defensive Player of the Year. He gets a bigger opportunity to showcase his defensive skill with Fred VanVleet being out for the year. I think he takes a huge step forward. Victor Wembanyama is the favorite, but Wemby gets hurt. He’s 7-foot-5. He misses time. There’s the eligibility for games played now. The Spurs are being very careful with him and his career. You think of Yao Ming and some of these monstrously tall guys. To me, there’s risk there on Wemby. Chet Holmgren is another really tall guy who’s been a little bit more durable than Wemby, but I think if the Rockets can sneak up and nab a second or third seed in the conference and Amen Thompson shows what he is capable of defensively like he did last year and takes another step forward, I love that value.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers
Issue 295: October / November 2025
Originally published Oct. 15, 2025