Following the acquisition of free agent Kawhi Leonard and all star Paul George via trade, the Los Angeles Clippers are $3.50 favourites with TAB to win the 2019/2020 NBA championship.
Before news broke yesterday about both announcements, the Clippers were $21 with Leonard seemingly deciding between a move to Los Angeles to join LeBron James and Anthony Davis as a Laker, or staying in Toronto after guiding the Raptors to their first NBA title a month ago.
Even though their had been talk throughout last season that Leonard would eventually become a Clipper after being traded from the San Antonio Spurs, the major shock yesterday was the trade for George, who had spent the last two seasons as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Lakers were $2.75 favourites just before 4pm AEST yesterday, but they have drifted to $5 with TAB after failing to snare Leonard, although they have secured power forward DeMarcus Cousins overnight.
The Milwaukee Bucks – who were beaten in six games by the eventual champion Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals – are on the third line of betting at $8 with expected improvement to come from MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and his team-mates.
The defending champion Toronto Raptors have eased from $9 to $14 with two-time Finals MVP Leonard departing.
2019/2020 NBA Winner
Los Angeles Clippers $3.50 ($21 before yesterday’s news)
Los Angeles Lakers $5 ($2.75 before yesterday’s news)
Milwaukee Bucks $8
Philadelphia 76ers $10
Houston Rockets $13 ($11 before yesterday’s news)
Toronto Raptors $14 ($9 before yesterday’s news)
Golden State Warriors $15
Boston Celtics $17
Brooklyn Nets $17
Utah Jazz $17 ($14 before yesterday’s news)
Denver Nuggets $21 ($17 before yesterday’s news)
Portland Trail Blazers $41 ($34 before yesterday’s news)
San Antonio Spurs $41
Other Teams $51+