Clippers Open at 18-1 Odds to Win 2020 NBA Championship

• The Golden State Warriors are favored to win the 2020 NBA Championship
• Further down the state, the Clippers and Lakers both present excellent value to bettors
• LA’s two teams are expected to be very active once free agency begins on June 30th

After a riveting NBA Finals that produced a championship for the Toronto Raptors and their star Kawhi Leonard, as well as performances and injuries that will impact next season, it’s time to look forward to next year’s NBA champion.

The NBA Championship odds for 2020 are out and one popular pick has been the Los Angeles Clippers.

2020 NBA Championship Odds

*Odds taken 06/15/19. Click on the link in the table above to see odds for all 30 NBA teams.

Clippers Among Favorites to Land Leonard

The Clippers, at 18-1, are a niche pick for a couple of reasons. They have long been favored to be the free agency destination for the aforementioned Kawhi Leonard and they played the Golden Warriors tough in the first round of the playoffs in April. They also have a strong supporting cast already in place, including Lou Williams, Patrick Beverly and Montrezl Harrell.

The LA Clippers are still high on Kawhi’s list of preferred FA destinations, per Woj.

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 14, 2019

Leonard is also from Southern California and expressed a desire to play close to home when he demanded a trade from the San Antonio Spurs last year. However, since playing an entire season in Toronto, Leonard has given no clues as to where he might end up.

Moreover after winning a championship with the Raptors, it would not be surprising to see him stay with the Toronto franchise. Also, while the Clippers did indeed play the Warriors tough in the first round of the playoffs, Golden State was tested by other teams as well.

Of course, many other teams are in hot pursuit of Leonard, including the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets. While the Clippers have been rumored to be the favorites to land Leonard for months, that reality is far from a sure thing.

Lakers Would Be Instant Contender with Davis

One team whose odds I like even better going into next season is the Los Angeles Lakers, at enticing +750 odds.

Remember, LeBron James is still there and will be as motivated as ever to prove that he is still the “best player in the world.” More importantly, the Lakers are the favorite to land top-five talent Anthony Davis in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. The pairing of those two superstars would put the 2020 NBA Championship squarely in reach.

"I think the Lakers have enough to get a deal done for Anthony Davis … "

–@wojespn pic.twitter.com/FOdZ0lhNKJ

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 13, 2019

Despite the Lakers’ recent dysfunction in the front office, few other teams have the assets – young players with potential and the no. 4 draft pick – to pull off a blockbuster deal with the Pelicans. Davis has also named the Lakers as one of two teams (along with the Knicks) that he would be willing to sign a long term contract with.

Despite the Lakers’ recent dysfunction in the front office, few other teams have the assets to pull off a blockbuster deal with the Pelicans.

LeBron James will not need much more help than Davis to get the Lakers back into NBA title contention, especially since Golden State will likely be depleted heading into the 2020 season.

Lakers are the leader in the clubhouse for Anthony Davis, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/mfiP2W8DRE

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 10, 2019

So, while the Clippers are a decent longshot bet at 18-1, the Lakers also have the potential to offer an excellent payout.