2019-20 NBA Championship Futures Review

The Toronto Raptors are your 2018-19 NBA champions, which for bettors means it’s time to start looking toward 2019-20.

On the latest NBA championship futures odds at Bovada Sportsbook, the Raptors aren’t favorites to win in 2019-20 and claim back-to-back titles. Neither are the Golden State Warriors, who came up short against Toronto last week in their bid for a third straight NBA crown. The favorites are the Los Angeles Lakers at +250.

The reported trade of Anthony Davis to the Lakers has supposedly given them the extra piece LeBron James needs to turn them into a championship contender. Not bad for a team that didn’t even make the playoffs this season. The trade won’t be official until sometime in July. Afterward, the Lakers will likely go after more stars to join LeBron’s newest super team.

Bucks are second to Lakers on oddsboard

Following the Lakers on the NBA championship futures are the Milwaukee Bucks at +550. Led by MVP favorite Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks came up short this season, falling to the Raptors in the Eastern Conference final. Milwaukee has several key players who are free agents, including Nikola Mirotic, Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton. Whatever moves they make – or don’t make – could greatly alter their futures odds.

Next, the Raptors show up at +600. Toronto’s chances of repeating likely depend on Kawhi Leonard’s future. In his first season in Toronto, he carried his new team to a title. If he departs as a free agent, not only will Toronto’s futures odds take a major hit but whichever team he joins will see its odds improve tremendously.

Rounding out the top five on the NBA championship futures are the Golden State Warriors at +750 and the Houston Rockets at +850.

Injury-ravaged Warriors fourth at +750

Could the Warriors’ championship window be closing quickly? Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson are both free agents, and even if they do re-sign, both may miss all of next season due to major injuries suffered in the postseason. DeMarcus Cousins’ time in Golden State may also be over, leaving a very thin supporting cast for Stephen Curry.

The Rockets’ big guns – James Harden, Chris Paul and Eric Gordon – are all signed. However, if other contenders make improvements and the Rockets don’t, how will they compete with a roster that didn’t have what it took to win in 2018-19?

Aside from the big names we already mentioned, a few other free agents who could upend the NBA futures depending where they sign include Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, Kemba Walker and Nikola Vucevic. As usual, it could be a very interesting July for NBA futures bettors.