Mavericks Odds to Win Southwest Division Hit Offseason Worst at +1100

• With training camp just days away, the Mavericks have slipped to +1100 on the odds to win the Southwest Division 
• Dallas has tumbled after being pegged at +850 for much of the offseason
• Houston leads the way as a heavy -275 to repeat as division champion, ahead of San Antonio at +425

With the opening of training camps fast approaching ahead of the 2019-20 NBA season, the Dallas Mavericks odds to win the Southwest Division have plummeted.

Having been listed at +850 for a majority of the summer, when sportsbooks re-opened their NBA futures the Mavs are now +1100 to win the division this year.

Odds to Win NBA Southwest Division

Changing of The Guard in Dallas

It is shaping up to be a season of change for the Mavericks, who look to an uncertain future following the retirement of Dirk Nowitzki. The future Hall of Famer’s departure will shift the spotlight to two young European stars, Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic.

However, one of the factors impacting the Mavericks decline in their NBA divisional odds is a concern about the current health status and long-term durability of Porzingis. The 24-year-old missed the final 28 games of the 2017/2018 season, and all of last season, after suffering a torn ACL while still a member of the New York Knicks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sce–mR0kA

The injury put the brakes on a breakthrough campaign for the talented power forward, who was averaging 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game at the time of his injury. Despite being injured, the Mavericks jumped at the chance to land Porzingis in a deal with the Knicks back in February, and subsequently signed the Latvian star to a five-year, $158 million deal.

After 20 months off the court, expectations as to how Porzingis will perform in his Mavs debut must remain tempered. It will likely take months for Porzingis to return to an elite level, diminishing the chances of Dallas making a major improvement over last season’s 33-49 record.

Sky Is The Limit for Doncic

As for Doncic, the sky appears to be the limit for the 20-year-old forward following a stellar rookie campaign. The young Slovenian earned Rookie of the Year honors after leading the Mavs with 21.2 points per game, and adding an impressive 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game on a Dallas squad that ranked 13th in the Western Conference in points per game.

Doncic was getting to the rim at will since the beginning of february when Mavs made the trade for Porzingis. He was 5th in drives during that time among all players (18.3). Westbrook was 1st with 20.2 drives and Harden 2nd (19.4). And that was Luka when he wasn't in great shape. pic.twitter.com/D5vDAltxeX

— Matej Sportinfo (@MatejSportinfo) September 23, 2019

But even if Porzingis enjoys a speedy recovery, and returns to the form that made him a 2018 NBA All-Star, the Mavericks’ European stars will likely get limited help from the supporting cast in Dallas.

Mavs Veteran Additions Enough to Compete?

Delon Wright joined the club in the offseason after splitting last season between Toronto and Memphis. The 27-year-old saw limited action with the Raptors before taking on a bigger role with the Grizzlies, draining 12.2 points per game, but does not represent a major upgrade at point guard over last season.

🚨Next video: Can Tim Hardaway Jr. become an third option for the Mavs? Luka & Porzingis needing a guard. pic.twitter.com/jSfyuh8clJ

— Inside The Edge 𖣐 (@InsideTheEdge_) September 16, 2019

The same is true at shooting guard, where Tim Hardway Jr. saw his production drop to 15.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game after coming over to Dallas along with Porzingis in the deal with the Knicks.

Rockets, Spurs Remain Class of The Southwest

Ahead of the Mavs are perennial contenders and divisional rivals, San Antonio and Houston.

The Spurs look toward training camp sporting +425 odds of winning the Southwest Division crown after compiling a 48-34 record last season, good for fourth overall in the Western Conference.

Oh mama, @DeMar_DeRozan! 😮

🎥 Watch DeMar's Top Plays in his first year with San Antonio Spurs! #GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/2KjDGpkP4V

— NBA Philippines (@NBA_Philippines) September 22, 2019

The club will once again lean heavily on DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge to generate offense after the pair both topped 21 points per game last season, and maintained valuable veteran depth by re-signing Rudy Gay and acquiring another former Raptor, DeMarre Carroll, in a deal with Brooklyn.

Houston Still Team to Beat After Adding Westbrook

As for the Rockets, they remain perched as heavy -275 favorites to claim a third straight Southwest Division title after pulling the trigger on a deal with Oklahoma City to bring Russell Westbrook to town, reuniting his with his former Thunder teammate James Harden.

@TilmanJFertitta: "A lot of great players do not win a championship until they're in their 30s. Right at 30 and 31 if you look back. Even the great Hakeem Olajuwon. This is the time for Russell [Westbrook] and James [Harden] to step up and make it happen in the playoffs." pic.twitter.com/4IFuCCAVws

— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) September 17, 2019

While the combination of Harden and Westbrook is likely to generate drama in Houston at some point this season, it is also likely to generate a lot of wins. Harden is coming off a spectacular campaign in which he led the NBA in scoring for a second straight year, with 36.1 points per game.

Westbrook has racked up a triple-double on the season in each of the past three years, and while his reunion with Harden may limit some of those numbers, it leaves the Rockets well-positioned to pay out on -115 odds of tallying OVER 54 wins this season, and to challenge a wide open field as an attractive +850 bet on he NBA championship odds.

Pick Rockets to win Southwest Division (-275)