The 2018 NBA Finals are ongoing and Game 1 provided all kinds of drama to remind the basketball world that the season isn’t over just yet. However, it is never too early to look ahead and, given the intrigue surrounding the 2018 NBA Draft and what sets up to be a wild free agency period beginning on July 1, oddsmakers are doing just that.
In fact, Jeff Sherman of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook released early odds for the 2018-19 NBA Championship and there is a common theme running throughout the list. Aside from the Golden State Warriors being installed as obvious favorites to claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy, a lot of the teams with the best odds have at least some amount of hope that they’ll acquire LeBron James in free agency this summer.
2018-19 NBA Championship
Warriors 5/4
Rockets 7/2
76ers 7/2
Celtics 8/1
Lakers 20/1
Heat 20/1
Spurs 25/1
Cavaliers 30/1
Raptors 40/1
Jazz 60/1
Thunder 60/1
Trail Blazers 80/1
Pelicans 80/1
Timberwolves 80/1
Nuggets 100/1
Knicks 100/1
Pacers 100/1
Clippers 100/1
Wizards 100/1— Jeff Sherman (@golfodds) June 2, 2018
It is already possible to wager on where James will land (at least in off-shore sportsbooks) but this is another way of speculating. After a tremendous 2017-18 season, the Rockets make sense as the team with the second-best odds right now but, if they were to add James in free agency, that would place Houston is a higher stratosphere.
Beyond that, teams like the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers clearly have their odds buoyed by the potential pursuit of James, as neither would be likely to earn quite this much respect without the looming possibility of an MVP addition. Conversely, James’ current team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, are seen as the team with only the eighth-best odds to win next season’s championship. That doesn’t slam the door on James coming back to Ohio for another run but, if and when he were to choose to stay home, Cleveland’s odds likely skyrocket.
There are plenty of additional storylines to consider here, ranging from the Sixers potentially using their free agent dollars elsewhere (Paul George?) to what exactly is happening in Miami (huh?) and San Antonio (hello, Kawhi). Still, it is very obvious to point out the number one influence on the betting market at this juncture, and it has everything to do with where the game’s best player chooses to play next season.
