While the Toronto Raptors lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy signified the start of the offseason, the Anthony Davis to the Lakers trade proves that in the NBA, there's no such thing as an offseason.
According to Tom Haberstroh, the national NBA Insider for NBC Sports, the Lakers should be the heavy favorites to win the title (see story). But what are the new NBA title odds telling us?
Here's five takeaways from what I think the oddsmakers at FanDuel are telling us about the league, and the eventual 2020 NBA champion.
1. The Sixers (11-to-1) will keep Jimmy Butler.
The Sixers have the fifth-best odds to win the NBA title, third in the East, and are significantly ahead of the Boston Celtics (18-to-1), the team with the fourth-best odds in the East. I think this says a lot about the team oddsmakers think the Sixers will have next season, which the value indicates it will include free agent Jimmy Butler.
Looking at the available free agents on the market, Butler is the only one that could keep the Sixers in this spot in the oddsmakers minds. Should he go to the Lakers, or another team, the Sixers would have the current value closer to the Celtics to win the title. While Tobias Harris is a nice player, he doesn't impute the same value as Butler. The oddsmakers are making an assumption that #23 will be back.
2. The Warriors (11-to-1) are underdogs, but you shouldn't count them out.
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Don't be so quick to write off the Golden State Warriors, who will be without Kevin Durant for the entire season, and perhaps, Klay Thompson, too. Oddsmakers have them even with the Sixers with the fifth-best odds in the NBA to win the title.
First of all, Steph Curry is a very good basketball player, he returns alongside Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala and you've already got a formidable trio. Should Thompson return, now you've got four players that nearly won the 2019 title themselves.
Perhaps KD was already going to leave anyway, so his injury could be more symbolic, but it would be unwise to write the Warriors off just yet.
3. Kawhi is probably going to the Clippers.
This reminds me of last offseason where each of the LeBron James suitors had elevated odds, just incase he were to land there. First of all, the Raptors enter the offseason with the third-best odds to repeat at 5.5-to-1, which makes me think that the bookmakers want to keep the Raptors high enough so that no one bets on them before Leonard decides. I have absolutely no interest in the Raptors at the third-best odds without Leonard, but they seem fairly placed in that spot with him. If you like the Raptors to repeat, just wait to see what Kawhi does because their odds won't move much, if at all, if he stays.
The Clippers, on the other hand, come in seventh-best at 12-to-1 and are elevated given the chance they will land the NBA Finals MVP. The Clippers finished eighth last season out West and the odds currently reflect their strong chance to get Leonard.
4. The Knicks and Pelicans will have to wait their turn.
The Knicks come in at 25-to-1, the 12th-best odds in the NBA to win the title, but what would that number have looked like with a healthy Kevin Durant? Maybe half that number?
The Knicks are a potential landing spot for nearly every free agent, but without KD, the oddsmakers aren't giving them much of a shot. They missed out on the top pick in the draft, and while they're likely to get a good player at No. 3, our Amy Fadool has them taking R.J.Barrett in her mock, they've got time before they're going to be seen as challengers.
Same for the Pelicans (100-to-1), who are being praised for what they got in return for Anthony Davis. An infusion of youth, it'll be interesting to see what becomes of Zion, Lonzo and company over the next five years, but this year, according to the oddsmakers, certainly isn't it.
5. Despite being favored, the Lakers could be the best value.
LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma, do the Lakers (4-to-1) need anyone else? Of course they do, but that's a tremendous start. With their entire compliment of talent intact at the start of these playoffs, the Warriors were -200 to win the title. Now imagine a team with the three players mentioned, and perhaps, another superstar. With the Warriors weakened, Kawhi perhaps headed to a lesser team and KD out for the season, getting the Lakers at 4-to-1 now could look like incredible value come next postseason.
6. Bonus Longshot: Dallas Mavericks at 42-to-1.
How good will the Mavs be with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis? Not sure, but 42-to-1 could be worth a punt.
Happy NBA "offseason," everyone. See you on Thursday for the draft, and perhaps, more craziness.
