With the NBA Finals complete and a new champion crowned the league’s attention turns to the NBA Draft occurring a week from tonight – July 29th. As is also typical the oddsmakers in Vegas wasted no time in serving up their far too early predictions for who’ll be the next champion.
Despite holding the current crown the Bucks already slip down the ladder to third (+800). Oddsmakers clearly expect a healthier campaign in 2021-22 especially in Brooklyn as they pick the Nets three-headed monster of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden as the significant favorites (+210).
In the West, the Lakers are tapped with the second-best odds (+450) given LeBron James’ presence along with the expectation Anthony Davis is back and healthy.
FanSided affiliate – Betsided provides all the odds which can be viewed via this link.
3 reasons to buy into Vegas odds OKC Thunder will finish last in 2021-22
The part of the equation that should pique Thunder fan’s interest is the bottom of that ticket where the teams projected to finish last reside. Five teams including the OKC Thunder are in that grouping of the projected teams who’ll have the worst records in the association with odds or plus +50000 or 500 to 1. Joining the Thunder in that group are the Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Orlando Magic.
Not much of a stretch considering the Pistons, Rockets, and Cavs will make the first three picks in the 2021 draft while the Magic select 5th (and 8th).
It’s not uncommon for teams to be projected in similar positions as to where they finished the past season. Last year, the outlier was the Nets who added the Big 3 while the Suns were one of five teams (Knicks, Hawks, Wizards, Grizzlies) who moved out of the lottery replacing former playoff teams (Raptors, Warriors, Pacers, Magic, Spurs). Of this quintet, the Warriors make the biggest jump up to fourth (plus +1200) with the return of Klay Thompson.
As for the Thunder, this prediction is in line with expectations and there are three solid reasons to buy into these odds.