The Los Angeles Lakers are overwhelming favorites to land LeBron James this offseason.
The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to make a huge splash in free agency this summer. They are armed with a ton of cap space with the potential to sign two max free agents. Atop their wish list is LeBron James and Paul George.
There have been rumors throughout the offseason about where James and George could end up. Some reports are that they would even discuss teaming up to play somewhere. If that does happen, the Lakers are a smart bet.
While free agency doesn’t start for another week, and players can’t officially sign until Jul 6th, we could know where the biggest free agent will be going. If you read into Las Vegas betting odds, the smart money is that James will be taking his talents to Hollywood and signing with the Lakers.
At the end of May, it was revealed that the Lakers had the fourth best odds to land LeBron James this summer. Their odds weren’t great, as they were listed at +550. However, less than four weeks later and things have changed.
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Earlier in the month, the Lakers had moved into the top spot odds wise for James. Their odds were 2/1 to sign James. Following the 2018 NBA Draft, the Lakers are now overwhelming favorites to land James this offseason.
Today, Los Angeles has 4/13 odds of acquiring James. The next closest team in the updated odds is the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are 13/4 to retain James. The Houston Rockets at 15/2, Philadelphia 76ers at 10/1 and Boston Celtics at 18/1 round out the top-five.
The Miami Heat’s odds for landing James have plummeted, as they were 5/1 in the previous update before changing to 40/1 in the most recent update.
While Los Angeles has been long rumored as a potential landing spot for James, these odds are more in their favor than anyone could have ever guessed. Las Vegas oddsmakers have access to plenty of information to make educated guesses on odds, so to have the Lakers at these odds is telling.
Los Angeles has been looking for that star power since Kobe Bryant retired two seasons ago. James would bring that star power and it would not be surprising if others join him as well. George is a popular pick, but Chris Paul has also been rumored to team up with James and the Lakers are hard at work trying to pry Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs.
Next: Los Angeles Lakers Ultimate Guide to 2018 Offseason
Free agency is going to wild once again. The Lakers are hoping they can come away with some proven veterans to help push their rebuild forward. Landing James would make them an even more attractive landing spot for free agents.