With Warriors Devastated by Injury, Are the Rockets Worth Betting to Win 2020 NBA Championship at 14-1 Odds?

• Even if he does come back to the Warriors, Kevin Durant is out for a full year
• Klay Thompson could be gone just as long with an ACL tear
• Are the Rockets a worthy wager for next year’s NBA title?

Sometimes, you have to kick down the door for your opportunity.

Other times, it disintegrates at your feet.

Welcome to the life of the Houston Rockets, who could very well find themselves on the inside track to next year’s NBA title, if they can stand each other enough to get there.

2020 NBA Championship Odds

*Odds taken 06/14/19. Click the link in the table for odds for all 30 NBA teams.

Houston, like many other teams featured atop the 2020 NBA Championship Odds board, could be in flux in a super-anticipated free agency period kicking off in three short weeks.

Let’s see if the Rockets, or anyone else, is worthy of a wager.

Warriors’ West Reign in Major Jeopardy

Take a good hard look at the dudes from the Bay Area, because after three titles and five straight appearances in the NBA Finals, there’s a chance that we’ve seen the last of the Dubs as currently constructed.

The team suffered a pair of devastating, career-altering injuries to superstar players, and it will be interesting to see how they maneuver around it.

Golden State’s Klay Thompson has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, his agent Greg Lawrence told @wojespn.

So Thompson tears his ACL and Kevin Durant ruptures his Achilles. Brutal.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 14, 2019

Even if Kevin Durant opts in to the final year of his deal, and even if they ink Klay Thompson to a max salary, we know that KD is out for likely the entire year, and Klay could be in that same boat.

Just spoke with Klay Thompson's father, Mychal, who said there's "no question" Klay will re-sign with the Warriors. Golden State is expected to still offer him a full five-year maximum deal.

— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) June 14, 2019

That’s a ton of money tied up to suited players. If the Warriors do decide to bring the band back together, it will cost them a year of prime Steph Curry, and the following summer comes the pending Draymond Green extension. Mo money, mo problems.

Part of Andre Iguodala's answer today when asked about the Warriors uncertain future: "I'll be here next year for sure, and I'm pretty confident that we'll have our core back and we'll try to make another run at it."

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 9, 2019

With longtime vets Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston on their last legs, and who knows what DeMarcus Cousins’ plans are, this team is dangerously close to moving into the history books, a five year shooting star that burned out.

Are the Rockets Ready?

Last time we checked in on the most dysfunctional non-Laker or Celtic team in the NBA, the Rockets had supposedly put up the for-sale sign on their roster, willing to close the door on a group that had taken hard L’s the past two playoffs at the hands of the Warriors.

On top of that, contract talks with head coach Mike D’Antoni have been frayed, though the two sides are back at it.

#Rockets CEO Tad Brown works to turn down the heat on any contract issues with Mike D’Antoni. Rockets at the Food Bank today, pic.twitter.com/rLqLLZweMD

— Greg Bailey (@GregBailey13) June 13, 2019

And for good measure,  the superstar pairing of Chris Paul and James Harden reportedly reached its boiling point following the series clinching Game 6 loss in this year’s West Semi-Finals.

With the Warriors’ window almost shut for at least next season, can the Rockets run it back and move past Golden State, who’ve caused them pain on the court and paths to dissension off it?

What’s the Best Bet to Make?

It’s foolish to make these calls right now, because there are so many dominoes that can fall, but these early flier bets are fun and could be very profitable.

Personally, I wouldn’t recommend the Rockets, as the James Harden ecosystem offense is a hard one for another star to co-shine with, and there’s much debate as to what they could fetch for an aging Paul, and an ineffective Clint Capela if they were to make trades.

Raptors have to sign Vince Carter. Trying to repeat while also playing to get the franchise don his first ring is some good narrative for us media folk and pretty cool for the city.

— Tas Melas (@TasMelas) June 14, 2019

If the Raptors retain Kawhi Leonard, they are a mighty bet to repeat (+800). They can run it back one more year with Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam is a stud, and Masai Ujiri knows how to build rosters.

“The real winner last night was the country of country and LeBron James.”@JalenRose and @djacoby thinks the Lakers are the favorites to win it all next year ? pic.twitter.com/ob5goENvyV

— Jalen & Jacoby (@JalenandJacoby) June 14, 2019

If LeBron stays healthy, he’s alone enough to keep the Lakers (+700) in the playoff picture, and I just have a feeling something is going to swing in their favor. It doesn’t have to be Anthony Davis, either. LeBron, Kyrie, and Tobias Harris would be adequate.

The Thunder need to add an elite shooter & floor general to help Russ/PG. I would try to trade for Bradley Beal without losing your core talent. Also try to add FA’s like Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, Wesley Matthews, Jeff Green, Rodney Hood, Seth Curry who won’t cost that much.

— SneakerReporter (@SneakerReporter) May 9, 2019

But the best value? Currently constructed, only Paul George’s shoulder turning into spaghetti cost the Thunder (+3300) a deep playoff run.

If the reports are true that they’re going big-game hunting in DC for Bradley Beal, they are going to be an absolute monster in the West.