Lakers’ 2020 NBA Championship Odds Unchanged After Signing DeMarcus Cousins
- Lakers miss out on Kawhi Leonard but sign DeMarcus Cousins
- The team is led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis
- Are the Lakers the best bet to win the NBA Championship?
The Kawhi Leonard sweepstakes have officially ended. In the wee hours of July 6, the two-time Finals MVP announced he would be signing with the Los Angeles Clippers.
It came as a surprise, as many insiders believed he was going back to the Toronto Raptors. However, the Clippers acquired Paul George and sealed Kawhi to the Clippers. In the hours following, the Lakers signed DeMarcus Cousins to a one-year deal as well as Danny Green and Rajon Rondo to two-year deals to strengthen their roster.
However, after adding Cousins, the Lakers’ 2020 NBA Championship odds have not changed.
2020 NBA Championship Odds
| Team | 2020 NBA Championship Odds |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Clippers | +300 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +400 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +500 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +800 |
| Golden State Warriors | +1400 |
| Houston Rockets | +1400 |
| Utah Jazz | +1600 |
| Denver Nuggets | +1600 |
| Toronto Raptors | +2000 |
| Brooklyn Nets | +2000 |
*Odds taken July 6
Does DeMarcus Cousins Put The Lakers Over The Top?
DeMarcus Cousins will be a very good addition to the Los Angeles Lakers roster. They can have him come off the bench if they decide to roll a lineup of Rajon Rondo, Danny Green, LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma, Anthony Davis, with Cousins and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope off the bench.
The Lakers, after missing the playoffs, should be one of the better teams in the West. But how do they match up against the Clippers, Rockets, or even a few under the radar teams like the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets.
The Clippers made the playoffs last season, unlike LeBron’s Lakers, and they added Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. How those two fit together is unknown as of now, but having two superstar players makes any team better.
But LA has compiled a number of their own stars, and if Cousins can return to his dominant form, the Lakers may be the best team in the city.
Who’s the Best Bet in the West?
The Western Conference has been the better conference as of late, and this upcoming season will be no different.
Realistically, there are about two to four teams who have a shot at finishing first, then the Jazz and Nuggets could surprise many after making very solid moves this off-season.
Yet, even with all that, I have to favor the Los Angeles Lakers as the team to win the West.
LeBron James is arguably still the best player in the league. Add perennial All-Star Anthony Davis, Rajon Rondo, who is an excellent facilitator to get them the ball, and Danny Green, who is one of the best three-point shooters in the league, and you’ve got a solid roster.
Kyle Kuzma’s growth and fit will also be something to watch.
If they do have a healthy DeMarcus Cousins coming off the bench, it’s a huge plus. He has been one of the better centers in the NBA for years, and is a dominant post player. However, his defense is rather suspect.
Add all that together and this Lakers team should be very good and, in my opinion, the best team in the Western Conference. And, at +400 odds to win the NBA Finals, they have tremendous value. It makes sense to bet them now.
Pick: Los Angeles Lakers (+400)
Cole graduated from Sheridan College in April of 2019 with a diploma in journalism. He now is a full-time freelance writer, focusing on MMA for sites like BJPENN, while also covering the Toronto Blue Jays as a credentialed media member. At SBD, Cole covers the four major sports and MMA.
