76ers Now Sporting +1000 Odds to Win 2020 NBA Championship After Retaining Harris and Signing Horford

• The Philadelphia 76ers signed Al Horford to a four-year, $109 million contract
• They also re-signed Tobias Harris to a five-year, $180 million deal
• Many other contenders in the Eastern Conference are returning with weaker lineups in 2020 leaving the path to the NBA Finals wide-open for Philadelphia
  

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NBA Free Agency opened with a bang. The deals came and they came quickly, with one of the bigger surprises coming when the Philadelphia 76ers landed forward Al Horford. The signing caused waves not only in NBA circles but in the NBA Championship Odds as well.

2020 NBA Championship Odds

*Odds taken 7/1/19

The deal is four years and $109 million which is a steep price the 76ers were willing to pay because they correctly believe they are NBA title contenders. Are they worth your action paying +1000? For my money, the answer is a resounding yes for two key reasons.

Breaking: Al Horford has agreed to a four-year, $109M deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, agent Jason Glushon tells @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/DXCHU96NYe

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 1, 2019

76ers Core Good Enough to Contend

Adding Horford to the duo of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid makes Philadelphia a really intriguing team in the Eastern Conference. The team also re-signed Tobias Harris to a five-year max contract, giving them a loaded lineup.

Tobias Harris has agreed to 5-year, $180M deal to stay with 76ers, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/WtSRaZ6bN5

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 30, 2019

Horford averaged 13.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists last season and is known as one of the best teammates in the league. With the 76ers ushering out Jimmy Butler and adding Horford, the team chemistry should move in a positive direction. The contract may not age well on the back end, but this bet only requires him to be a key piece this year and he definitely should be. His shooting and passing ability will allow him to move outside and Embiid to move closer to the basket where he thrives.

The roster needs to be rounded and it will, but when you look at the top-end talent it’s undeniable the 76ers are a big-time threat in the East.

NBA Becoming a League of Parity?

After years of super teams and clear favorites the 76ers loaded roster is actually one of the only ones in 2020. In the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks took a step back in free agency, the Brooklyn Nets signed Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant with an eye towards contending in 2021 and the Celtics landed Kemba Walker but lost two other big pieces. The defending champion Toronto Raptors may run it back if Kawhi Leonard re-signs, or he could bolt for the Los Angeles Clippers or Lakers leaving the path wide open.

??? Your 2019-20 Philadelphia 76ers starting five #LockdownTown pic.twitter.com/uct8vOjs8U

— Sixers Nation (39-26) (@PHLSixersNation) July 1, 2019

Looking West, the Lakers have two big-time stars in LeBron James and Anthony Davis but little else on the roster and while the Golden State Warriors made waves landing De’Angelo Russell they likely won’t contend without Klay Thompson next year. All of this is to say, there isn’t a clear threat to win the title so a roster with as much to offer as the 76ers is definitely worth a look.

PICK: Philadelphia 76ers (+1000)