Shifting Lakers title odds signal a Kyrie Irving trade is near

The biggest story around the Los Angeles Lakers right now is a potential Kyrie Irving trade. The Brooklyn Nets are likely in the process of blowing it up after Kevin Durant demanded a trade, opening the door for Kyrie to be a Laker.

Irving’s trade value is reportedly extremely low, meaning that the Lakers could likely get a deal done that is centered around Russell Westbrook and future draft picks. That was not possible before with Durant in town, for obvious reasons.

While Irving certainly has his flaws that the Lakers would have to work through, there is no denying that the team would be better off with him over Westbrook. There is no chance the team wins the NBA Championship with Westbrook at point guard. With Irving, there is at least a chance.

Oddsmakers seem to agree that Irving in Los Angeles gives the team a better chance of winning the title and the latest shift in title odds might be revealing of what is to come. The Lakers’ odds to win the title next season have improved to +1000, giving them the sixth-best odds on WynnBET. When WynnBET initially posted the odds, the Lakers had the 11th-best odds at +1800.

The shifting Lakers title odds absolutely foreshadow a Kyrie Irving trade.

As some of my fellow sports gamblers now, Las Vegas knows about things before we know about things. Time and time again odds have shifted before an event happens, and when it is all said and done, it makes sense why those odds shifted in the first place.

Granted, there is some built-in protection there for the bookies by moving the odds, knowing that a trade is possible. But the fact that the Lakers’ odds moved that much when there has been so many conflicting reports about an Irving trade should say something.

Vegas seems to think, at least based on moving the odds, that the Lakers are going to get Kyrie Irving this offseason and that he makes the team better. Where there is smoke there is fire and there is a lot of smoke around Irving donning the purple and gold next season alongside LeBron James.

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Lakers could add an elite defender in this potential free-agent target

The Los Angeles Lakers need to add defensive help in free agency and there is someone who could be an elite defender in Los Angeles.

Combine these shifting odds with the Nets’ recent free-agent activity and it seems like an Irving trade might actually be right around the corner.

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