The Los Angeles Lakers have always been the most active team in the NBA offseason, and this is reflected in the latest betting odds. After being out of the first round of the playoffs, Los Angeles is considered the overwhelming favorite in the Western Conference in the 2021-2022 season.
The Lakers lead all Western Conference teams to win the 2022 NBA Finals at +370 odds FanDuel sports bettingThe Golden State Warriors ranked second with a championship odds of +1100, followed by the Utah Jazz (+1200), the Los Angeles Clippers (+1300) and the Phoenix Suns (+1300).
The Brooklyn Nets become the championship with +220 odds.Defending champion Milwaukee Bucks have +800 odds
Soon after the Bucks defeated the Suns to win the 2021 NBA Finals, the Lakers have a +600 chance of winning next year’s championship. When the team overhauled the lineup, the chances of Los Angeles winning the championship greatly increased.
These changes began with the Lakers’ decision to trade Russell Westbrook in a controversial deal. Los Angeles sent Kyle Kuzma, Montrez Harrell, Kentavius ​​Caldwell-Pop and a first-round pick to the Washington Wizards in exchange for the point guard. Westbrook’s statistics have always been more impressive than almost any player, but his cooperation with stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis is questionable.
Westbrook averaged a triple-double for the fourth time in five seasons. The 32-year-old player led the Wizards to the playoffs, but he hasn’t reached the conference finals for five years. The Lakers are Westbrook’s fourth team in multiple seasons.
The Los Angeles team will have a new set of role players next season. According to reports, the team has signed Carmelo Anthony, Malik Munch, Kendrick Nunn, Trevor Ariza, Kent Bezmore and Wayne Ai as free agents. Lington. Dwight Howard returned a year after leaving the team.
Munch, Bazemore, and Ellington all shot more than 40% of their three-pointers last season, which gave the Lakers the much-needed perimeter shooting percentage. Anthony averaged 13.2 points per game, and 40.9% of his three-point shooting percentage came from the Portland Trail Blazers bench.
Dennis Schroder no longer signs with the Lakers and is unlikely to return. Alex Caruso signed with the Chicago Bulls.
As Davis missed the end of the first round, injuries damaged the Lakers’ championship defense, and James may never fully recover from the high ankle sprain he suffered in March. The Lakers are only 10 months away from winning the 2020 NBA Finals postponed due to the epidemic.
Photo: Getty Images | Ashley Landis-Pool
