Oddsmakers have named the Phoenix Suns as a contender for the 2021-22 title.

At the beginning of the 2020-21 season, the Phoenix Suns were seen as unlikely contenders with +4000 odds to win the NBA championship. But after trading for Chris Paul and seeing Devin Booker emerge as one of the best perimeter players in the league, the Suns’ odds plummeted to -500 as they took a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.

Nevertheless, it was not enough as the Milwaukee Bucks made a comeback to win four straight games, leading to the franchise’s first NBA championship in 50 years.

Arizona betting apps were quick to release next season’s title odds for every team, with the Suns receiving more respect this time around.

The DraftKings AZ Sportsbook gives Phoenix the fourth-best odds at +1300 to win the championship, tying with the Golden State Warriors. The Brooklyn Nets (+200), Los Angeles Lakers (+525), and the Bucks (+900) have better odds.

Is Chris Paul going to come back?

The future of Paul is a top concern among NBA bettors this offseason.

In Game 6, he tallied 26 points, five assists, and two rebounds. His steady performance throughout the playoffs included averages of 19.2 points, 8.6 assists, and 3.5 rebounds. His experience and leadership provided much-needed stability for the Suns, filling a gap that had been evident in previous seasons.

Paul, a 36-year-old with 16 years of experience in the NBA, firmly declared that he has no plans to retire.

Paul told reporters after the 105-98 Game 6 loss that he is not retiring. He clarified that returning to work is his next step.

After the loss, Paul wasn’t thinking much about his future, but he does have the option to either exercise his $44.2 million player option for 2021-22 or become a free agent and seek a multiyear contract worth nearly $60 million.

After the game, he told reporters that he was confident everything would work itself out.

MVP Odds for Devin Booker

Even though the Suns did not win, Booker solidified his status as one of the top perimeter players in the league. In the Finals, he had impressive averages of 28.2 points, four assists, and three rebounds, with two standout games.

In Game 4, he scored 42 points with a shooting percentage of 61%, and in Game 5, he scored 40 points with a shooting percentage of 52%.

Booker is a top contender for the MVP award next season, with +1800 odds to win the title, tying him with Atlanta’s Trae Young for the ninth-best chance to win the award.

Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks is the frontrunner with odds of +400, followed by Joel Embiid from the Philadelphia 76ers and Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets, both at +700. Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks and Stephen Curry from the Golden State Warriors are tied at +800.

Keep an eye on LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, who has odds of +1100, and reigning MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, who has odds of +1500, as they are also strong contenders for the MVP award.