King James has made another decision, and this time he wasn’t such a dick about it. In an instant, the Cavs are the favorites to take home the Larry O’Brien Trophy next year. But just how big are the repercussions of this development to the Cavs and other teams in the East?
Read on for a complete breakdown of LeBron’s Decision 2.0 including a look at the updated NBA odds, and then check out our discussion of Pau Gasol’s huge move to Chicago.
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NBA Future Odds After LeBron James’ Returned to Cleveland
Love it or hate it, LeBron just made the Cleveland Cavaliers the heavy favorites to win the 2015 NBA championship. LeBron’s decision has created ripple effects across the league, with various teams that were prepped for the free agent frenzy left to wait on LeBron before pursuing secondary options or schemes.
With that in mind, now is a great time to reassess the current landscape in the Eastern Conference, beginning with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cleveland Rises from the Ashes
[sc:NBA240banner ]It wasn’t long ago the Cavaliers were labelled as longshots to win their first NBA Title. They were priced at +3,300 to win it all in 2014-2015 when odds were released after the San Antonio Spurs demolished the Miami Heat in the recent NBA Finals. But everything was turned upside down the moment Sports Illustrated published LeBron’s essay.
With that, the balance of power was shaken so hard that a club that finished 33-49 SU last season and missed the Playoffs while playing in a very bad Eastern Conference is now more favored to win the Larry O’Brien than the Spurs. All of a sudden, Dan Gilbert’s Cavs are +375 to become the next NBA champions.
In Cleveland, LeBron has a young and talented supporting cast led by Andrew Wiggins and Kyrie Irving. Even though there are still holes in the Cavs’ roster and doubts whether new coach David Blatt can hold his own in the NBA after transferring from Europe, the public’s estimation of Cleveland right now is so high that oddsmakers have no option but to install the Cavs as the odds on faves.
As the odds fluctuate, there are opportunities to get on some juicy lines. Create a betting account now and pick which team will reign supreme in the NBA next season for a chance to win big.
Heat Check
The Miami Heat lost in the Finals against the Spurs last June, but losing LeBron James hurts even more. Before The King opted out his contract, the Heat were +300 favorites to win their third NBA championship in four years. It would soon skyrocket to +5,000 after LeBron decided to return to Cleveland.
If it’s any consolation, the Heat managed to retain the services of Chris Bosh, whom Pat Riley signed to a maximum five-year, $118 million contract. Prior to that, they got forwards Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger off the free agency market. Dwyane Wade’s future is still up in the air, although it’s likely that the Heat will re-sign him but for a much lesser amount primarily because of his banged up knees.
If Wade stays, he and Bosh will be the cornerstones of this franchise. To some extent, the addition of Luol Deng in the lineup gives the Heat another The Big Three – a watered down version, but a formidable trio nonetheless. In fact, Deng’s arrival at South Beach bumped the Heat’s odds to +3,000 – that’s a 2,000-decline from their price at the time James agreed to play for the Cavs.
Other Top Contenders in the East
LeBron’s decision to remain in the East suggests that the Chicago Bulls and the Indiana Pacers will have to challenge, for the first time in years, a team other than the Miami Heat for the conference’s supremacy. The Bulls appear to be Cleveland’s top competitor, as Chicago is currently priced at +800 to win the NBA championship. They are the only Eastern Conference team other than the Cavs to own a three-digit price.
Despite failing to lure Carmelo Anthony to the Windy City, the Bulls will start next season with a healthy Derrick Rose and a new big man in four-time All-Star Pau Gasol. In addition, their offense is expected to pick up with rookie Doug McDermott, who the Bulls got off a trade with the Denver Nuggets.
Paul George and the rest of the Pacers have some soul-searching to do this offseason after a highly disappointing 2013-2014 campaign. Indiana was priced +1,200 to get over the hump and win the team’s first NBA championship when odds were first released last June. However, they are now facing higher odds of +2,000 while being left out of the conversation this offseason.
While the Cavs, Bulls, and even the Detroit Pistons have improved their rosters, the Pacers, meanwhile, are left contemplating on what to do with Lance Stephenson and Roy Hibbert.
It will be a bold new NBA in 2014-2015, folks. Off we go.
