The NBA Finals odds for the Los Angeles Lakers have once again seen a significant improvement. Following a late-night trade to acquire center Mark Williams from the Hornets, the Lakers have climbed to become the fourth favorite to win the championship. In exchange for Williams, the Lakers reportedly sent rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, and their 2031 first-round pick to the Hornets.
BetMGM currently lists the odds for the Lakers at +1200, just hours before the NBA trade deadline. The team seems to have wrapped up their trading activity after dealing away both their 2029 and 2031 first-round picks, as well as several players from their roster, including Anthony Davis. With the imminent return of Luka Dončić to the lineup on Saturday, the Lakers could potentially field a starting five consisting of LeBron James, Dončić, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Williams.
The question now arises: Is this lineup formidable enough to secure the championship title? The odds certainly suggest so. At +225 each, the Celtics and Thunder remain as the frontrunners for the championship, with the Cavaliers holding the best record in the Eastern Conference and sitting at +800.
Following this top tier, the Lakers lead a three-team grouping in the odds. The Knicks and Nuggets closely trail Los Angeles at +1400, before the Bucks are listed at +2800, ahead of a cluster of teams with significantly longer odds.
Upon acquiring Dončić, the Lakers saw their odds rise to +1800 for the Finals and +900 for the Western Conference. However, the addition of Williams caused a further drop in their Western Conference odds to +700.
Reflecting on the Lakers’ recent acquisitions, general manager Rob Pelinka acknowledged the team’s need for a quality big man, particularly with Davis now with the Mavericks. However, Pelinka expressed some skepticism about the availability of a game-changing center on the market. Could Williams potentially fill that void? Notably, he averaged 15.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in just 25 minutes for a struggling Hornets team in the Eastern Conference. In Los Angeles, Williams will be surrounded by a stronger supporting cast and will be entrusted with fortifying the team’s defense in the paint.
NBA Finals odds:
– Boston Celtics (+225)
– Oklahoma City Thunder (+225)
– Cleveland Cavaliers (+800)
– Los Angeles Lakers (+1200)
– New York Knicks (+1400)
– Denver Nuggets (+1400)
– Milwaukee Bucks (+2800)
– Dallas Mavericks (+3000)
– Memphis Grizzlies (+3000)
– Golden State Warriors (+4000)
– Los Angeles Clippers (+4000)
– Philadelphia 76ers (+5000)
– Houston Rockets (+5000)
