Five NBA Props To Calm Those Offseason Blues
So you’re sad because the 2016-2017 NBA season is over? The Warriors got their revenge on the Cavaliers in the Finals, scorching them 4-1. Lonzo Ball went second overall to the Lakers. Everything went pretty much how we thought it would — with the exception of the NBA MVP award which will be announced live on TNT on Monday.
Fortunately for you this offseason is already shaping up to be a summer of big time moves — including the potential departures of Paul George and Carmelo Anthony from their respective clubs. Not to mention, we’ve got NBA futures to soothe your anticipations for the coming season. So, here are five prop odds to make your life a little brighter.
Odds to win the 2017-18 NBA Finals
- Warriors: 5/6
- Spurs: 11/2
- Cavaliers: 6/1
- Celtics: 19/1
- Rockets: 22/1
- FIELD: 14/1
Expect Golden State’s Big Four of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson to reunite in the fall for another 66-70 win season. Curry and Durant have the option to skip town this summer if they like. But that’s about as likely as Brett Favre coming out of retirement. If you’re looking for a spicier prop bet for Finals Champs…
Check out the Spurs. They’re probably the only team in the West with any hopes of beating the Warriors in a seven game series. If they can make some key offseason acquisitions — maybe someone named Chris Paul — they might have a shot. Granted, San Antonio has about as much flexibility in their salary cap as Shaquille O’Neal has in his hips. So if they come up short in the offseason, expect their championship run to stop somewhere around the Eastern Conference Finals.
A Paul George-LeBron James combination might just be Cleveland’s answer to KD and the Warriors.
The Cavs will no doubt be the team to beat in the East next season. Even if the Celtics add a big name like Gordon Hayward or Jimmy Butler, they’ll still be facing three of the best players in the league in Cleveland. That is unless the Cavs find a way to obtain Paul George this summer. That would require them to unload Kevin Love but they’d acquire one of the best young stars in the league. If that happens, I say their odds to win it all increase fivefold. As it stands, their odds are still pretty good. Speaking of…
Odds of a Cavaliers/Warriors rematch in the ’17-18 NBA Finals
- 1/1
- (11/1 odds that neither team makes it back)
This should be a surprise to no one. These two teams are dynasties in the modern sense of the word. If their core rosters remain in tact this offseason, expect a fourth consecutive meeting.
Odds to win the 2017-18 MVP
- Kawhi Leonard (Spurs): 11/2
- James Harden (Rockets): 6/1
- LeBron James (Cavaliers): 6/1
- Russell Westbrook (Thunder): 8/1
- Kevin Durant (Warriors): 9/1
- Stephen Curry (Warriors): 12/1
- John Wall (Wizards): 22/1
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks): 25/1
- Anthony Davis (Pelicans): 25/1
- Karl Anthony Towns (Timberwolves): 35/1
- Isaiah Thomas (Celtics): 35/1
- FIELD: 4/1
We should probably get through this year’s MVP announcement before speculating about next year’s. But what the heck. This is America. And we’ve got a lot of time to kill this offseason. If Russell Westbrook keeps up his usage rate in 2018 and gets OKC to the playoffs, look for him to take the trophy (potentially for the second year in a row). My guess is James Harden gets it this year. As for next season, you can probably count out Kevin Durant unless he puts up monster numbers. Same for LeBron. This isn’t the Best-In-Show trophy. It’s the Most Valuable Player. So it’s got to go to that guy who’s most integral to his team’s success. Cough James Harden cough. I’d also throw my hat in with John Wall, especially if his numbers improve.
Odds to win the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55434395/800197134.0.jpg "Will Lonzo Ball turn this LA offseason into the start of something more?")
Lonzo Ball is LA’s newest promise. Can he deliver?
- Ben Simmons (76ers): 9/2
- Lonzo Ball (UCLA): 6/1
- Markelle Fultz (Washington): 13/2
- Josh Jackson (Kansas): 8/1
- Jayson Tatum (Duke): 8/1
- De’Aaron Fox (Kentucky): 8/1
- Malik Monk (Kentucky): 10/1
- FIELD: 17/2
Remember that Ben Simmons sat out the whole of the 2016-17 season. With Joel Embiid slated to take home this year’s RoY award, we’re likely to see a rested, enthused Simmons follow suit in Philly. That is, unless Lonzo Ball delivers on his bombastic father’s promises and leads the Lakers back to stardom. This is a great class of rookies all around. It will be interesting to see where Markelle Fultz fits in with the Wizards. He usually plays as a guard, but at 6’4″ he could easily play as a sub to Bradley Beal or split time with Otto Porter Jr. and Kelly Oubre Jr. It’s unlikely he’ll have the space to shine the way Simmons or Ball will, but he’ll play in an integral role in getting the Wiz back to the playoffs.
Odds on Carmelo Anthony’s team to start 2017-18 season
Melo and King James’ long documented friendship may get a lot stronger in Cleveland come next season
- Knicks: 4/1
- Celtics: 5/1
- Cavaliers: 6/1
- Clippers: 8/1
- FIELD: 3/2
This whole Melo ordeal is getting old. If anything should be settled this offseason, it should be this. Ever since the Knicks nabbed Melo back in 2010, they’ve been that one team you look at and go, “What the heck are they doing?” Last year was no different. The Knickbockers missed the playoffs with a sad 31-51 record. This summer they have the option to buy out Melo’s contract and be done with this drama for good. If that happens, or if a trade comes through that wet’s Anthony’s appetite, he might be tempted to leave for more fertile championship grounds. Right now, that looks like Cleveland. No doubt, Melo’s good pal LeBron is for the move. But with the way things are going in New York, anything could happen — including Anthony staying in New York and grinding it out with Phil Jackson.
Going forward this offseason.
With the awards taking place Monday night, we can officially put this past NBA season in the books. The offseason is here and it’s time we embrace it. This offseason’s free agency is shaping up to be quite a splash. Blake Griffin and Chris Paul may end up elsewhere, as well as the other Paul (George), Kristaps Porzingis (maybe), and potentially even King James if the Cavs don’t get it together and bring in some more talent. Anyways, the point is you don’t need to get all upset cause there’s no more primetime ball. Besides, if blockbuster trades and superstar moves aren’t enough for you, there’s always the Summer League.
