LeBron James to the Lakers significantly shifts the balance of power in the NBA according to Vegas.
How much does LeBron James signing with the Los Angeles Lakers change their NBA title odds? A whole lot.
The Lakers were +2000 to win the title following the conclusion of the 2018 NBA Finals. Those odds were better than Cleveland’s +3000 odds, showing that oddsmakers knew early on that LeBron to Los Angeles had plenty of steam.
The Warriors were +120 to win the title. Their odds actually increased, despite the Western Conference getting tougher. Some of that can be attributed to the current state of the Lakers. LeBron joining a 35-win team with no second star (for now) doesn’t exactly look threatening to the Warriors.
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However, it’s highly unlikely the Lakers are done making roster moves. Kawhi Leonard is all but guaranteed to end up in Los Angeles following LeBron’s announcement, it’s just a matter of what the Lakers will give up in return. The Lakers have also kicked the tires on signing DeMarcus Cousins. He’s coming off Achilles surgery but is one of the two best centers in the league when healthy.
If those moves go through, the Lakers odds will be markedly improved.
The Celtics went from +800 to +350. With LeBron now out West, very little stands in their way of making it to the Finals. They were within one game of the Finals last year and the only thing that stopped them were injuries to Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. And, of course, a healthy LeBron.
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The Sixers and Rockets got bumped down from +350 each. The +350 following the Finals on the Sixers was generous based on rumors that LeBron or Paul George could sign there. Both options are now off the table.
They’ll have any easier time out East, but the gap between them and Boston is unlikely to close as Boston gets healthy. The Rockets take a huge dip as James joins the West, making their road to the Finals much tougher.