The Toronto Raptors may be the reigning NBA champions but bookmakers aren’t favouring them to repeat. This group needs more respect.
The Toronto Raptors won the hearts of a nation when they took the NBA by storm this spring. Now on the precipice of free agency, Las Vegas has signaled that they believe the title was a one-off.
Almost immediately after confetti covered the hardwood at Oracle Arena, bookmakers began looking forward to who may win it all in 2020. The Los Angeles Lakers, who didn’t qualify for the 2019 postseason, were early favourites. They remain at the top with the Raptors slotted several spots below. They deserve better.
Different books have their own betting line but they mostly all agree that the Lakers are the frontrunners for a title. It’s not a surprise, especially after Rob Pelinka shipped out the majority of his roster in order to acquire Anthony Davis. Davis then waived his trade-kicker of $4 million, allowing the Lakers to open up max space.
In what is a rich field of free agents, the Lakers look poised to feature Davis, LeBron James, and one more star. If that happens to be Kawhi Leonard, they could be combining three of the top five players in the NBA. For those who make the odds in Vegas, that’s enough to list the Lakers at a +200 on the moneyline.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers sit right behind the Lakers. Vegas sees these two franchises having a chance to contend for obvious reasons. They’re both offered at +600.
The Clippers may be the team that ultimately lands Leonard. According to Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne, they may even score Kevin Durant when he recovers from his Achilles injury to join Leonard. Despite finishing in eighth place in the Western Conference, the Clips would leapfrog other teams if they added the NBA Finals MVP.
The Bucks would benefit from Leonard getting a change of scenery. If the superstar goes to the Western Conference, it would mean that the team that eliminated them in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Raptors, would be vulnerable. This would help the Bucks chances to win a championship next season.
These scenarios all hinge on the Raptors star choosing to play for a new team. By all accounts, the Dinos are still in the mix and will have the final meeting with Leonard and his representation. The Raptors are listed at +1000 or 10/1. This means that a $100 bet wins $1000. Those are the same odds given to the Houston Rockets.
The lack of respect from Vegas is evident. The Raptors are a far better team with Leonard and his talent cannot be replaced. However, in a wide-open Eastern Conference, the Raptors should not be taken for granted.
This is still a team who went 17-5 last season without Leonard in the lineup. The few times he performed below his own standards in the playoffs, there were players who stepped up their game to help the team rise above their competition.
The Raptors will also have a largely unchanged roster and the league’s most improved player, Pascal Siakam. They also are incredibly deep and can handle losing one player, no matter how great he is.
There is no one that can do what the Klaw can on both ends of the floor. The Raptors just may not need to be as strong as they were this year thanks to the changing landscape of the league. The Bucks have Khris Middleton, Malcolm Brogdon, and Brook Lopez all coming off the books, which puts them in danger of losing some important pieces from their first overall 2019 regular season campaign. They too may regress next year.
The Celtics may be locking up Kemba Walker for four years but they’re also losing Kyrie Irving and Al Horford. They may never be the contender they were once considered. Even the Philadelphia 76ers are at risk of failing to retain many of its stars. This opens the field for the Raptors, even if they don’t have the Klaw plowing through opponents. There could be less resistance to get through the east.
It is not unrealistic to believe that the Raptors could clinch a spot in the 2020 NBA Finals. Should they get there they would be up against stiff competition but anything can happen in a single series. Look no further back than these past finals for evidence of that. After significant injuries plagued the Golden State Warriors, the Raptors were able to win the series handily.
This all suggests that oddsmakers may have it wrong or are at least playing to a public which does not respect Toronto.
Until we know Leonard’s landing spot, the disparity between the Lakers and the Raptors is too great. These books are sure to be scrambling to update their futures odds once the moratorium period ends and players start signing with their new teams. Though until that happens, savvy gamblers may be able to place some favourable wagers.
Raptors fans will be watching closely. If Leonard does choose to return to Toronto, the Raptors moneyline will plummet. More importantly, all of Canada will breathe a sigh of relief.