Basketball

NBA futures odds: Los Angeles Lakers gain some momentum with news of Russell Westbrook trade on draft night


The most significant move in the NBA on draft night was the Russell Westbrook trade. The Washington Wizards sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers for Kyle KuzmaKentavious Caldwell-PopeMontrezl Harrell and the No. 22 pick, a move that won’t be official until free agency opens in a week.

The trade may not be official, but futures odds don’t wait for that. The Lakers moved from 5-1 to 4-1 on BetMGM but remain the second favorite behind the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets’ odds barely moved from +225 to +230.

Milwaukee remained third in the odds at 8-1. Golden State is next at 11-1. The Warriors’ odds took a bit of a dip from 9-1 before the draft. Golden State added Jonathan Kuminga with the seventh pick and Moses Moody with pick No. 14. The young talents will be key for Golden State’s future, but the Warriors still need veterans to support the trio of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and the returning Klay Thompson.

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2022 NBA championship odds

The Jazz also dropped from 12-1 to 14-1 and share those odds with the Phoenix Suns. The Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers made small moves to 16-1 after opening at 18-1. The Clippers’ value is tied up in Kawhi Leonard’s future while the 76ers could be shaking up their core with a Ben Simmons trade.

In the longshot category, the Memphis Grizzlies are now 100-1 after opening at 150-1. The Grizzlies dealt Jonas Valanciunas to New Orleans in a trade that netted Memphis Eric Bledsoe, Steven Adams and the No. 10 pick, which became Ziaire Williams.

If you’re looking for value in the middle of the board, the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks are getting long odds while having superstar guards. The Hawks made the Eastern Conference Final this season with a young core built around Trae Young. Dallas always seems close to contention with Luka Doncic leading the charge.

(Photo of Russell Westbrook: Stephen Gosling / NBAE via Getty Images; The Athletic may receive an affiliate commission if you open an account with BetMGM through links contained in the above article.)

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