Betting on Where Lebron James Will Land
Betting on the NBA isn't over quite yet. July 1st marks the start of the free agency so let's take a looks at some betting odds released on where some NBA stars will play next season. This year's list is littered with perennial NBA All-Stars, including Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer. However, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the crown jewel of this year's free agency class is non other then LeBron James.
Let's take a look at some of the 2010 NBA free agency betting odds currently posted by some online sportsbooks and analyze where exactly James will call home next year.
Cleveland Cavaliers (-150)
Despite another postseason disappointment, the Cleveland Cavaliers are the favorites to resign arguably the premier player in the NBA. An Ohio native, James has often alluded that staying home and leading the Cavs to an NBA Championship is very important to him. Although it is quite apparent that he'll need more help to do so, because there just isn't enough fire-power on the current roster to win it all.
Chicago Bulls (+150)
The Chicago Bulls make plenty of sense as a place for LeBron to call home. After the Cavaliers early exit, plenty of bettors piled in on Chicago reducing their odds to +150, second behind Cleveland. In Chicago, LeBron would have some very talented ad young running mates in Derrick Rose, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah. With an ego as big as his vertical leap, could James live in Michael Jordan's shadow if he chooses Chicago?
New York Knicks (+200)
Let's face it, athletes of LeBron's stature make more money in endorsements then they do with their salaries. That's where the New York Knicks enter the race. Having been maneuvering their roster and salary cap for a couple years now, the Knicks franchise thinks they have what it takes to bring King James to the Big Apple. Going to New York wouldn't be good for James' immediate title hopes. Outside of power forward David Lee, the talent on the Knicks roster is pretty ordinary.
New Jersey Nets (+400)
The Nets have a new Russian playboy owner Mikhail Prokhorov, a new head coach in the likeable Avery Johnson, but the same old roster that could only muster up 12 wins last season. To add insult to injury, the Nets are drafting third in Thursday's NBA Draft despite having the NBA's worst record. They do have some good young pieces in Brook Lopez and Devin Harris, but even with James, they would have a very difficult time making the playoffs - can't see LeBron being too excited about that. However, with the Nets moving to Brooklyn eventually, James would be able to cash-in on all off that New York marketing money touched on earlier.
Miami Heat (+600)
If the Heat could retain Dwayne Wade and sign LeBron, they would be instant NBA title favorites. Wade and James would be the most electrifying one-two punch in NBA history selling out seats across the country. It is hard to imagine that the Heat will be able to sign both superstars. Additionally, will both of these players want to share the ball and spotlight with the other? Doubtful...
LA Clippers (+1000)
Los Angeles' other team is a current betting long shot for James' services. There is some very good young talent on the Clippers' roster, including last year's #1 draft pick Blake Griffin. The Clippers have been the league's laughing stock for years and the franchise quite frankly seems to be cursed. LeBron would fit in right away with all the glitz and glamor of LA, but is he capable of sharing the limelight with Kobe Bryant. Although it is the second biggest city in the U.S., LA might not be big enough for the two of them.
As noted before, this year's NBA free agency class is filled with studs. Here are the betting odds on where these players will sign.
Dwayne Wade
Heat -200
Bulls +300
Knicks +300
Clippers +1000
Nets +1000
Chris Bosh
Bulls +300
Heat +300
Knicks +300
Rockets +300
Clippers +800
Wizards +800
Raptors +1000
Nets +1000
Cavaliers +2000
Amare Stoudemire
Heat +220
Bulls +220
Knicks +220
Nets +500
Suns +700
Wizards +1500
Clippers +1500
Kings +1500
Cavaliers +2000
Carlos Boozer
Nets +300
Bulls +300
Heat +300
Jazz +300
Wizards +700
T-Wolves +700
Knicks +700
Cavaliers +1500
Clippers +1500
Let's take a look at some of the 2010 NBA free agency betting odds currently posted by some online sportsbooks and analyze where exactly James will call home next year.
Cleveland Cavaliers (-150)
Despite another postseason disappointment, the Cleveland Cavaliers are the favorites to resign arguably the premier player in the NBA. An Ohio native, James has often alluded that staying home and leading the Cavs to an NBA Championship is very important to him. Although it is quite apparent that he'll need more help to do so, because there just isn't enough fire-power on the current roster to win it all.
Chicago Bulls (+150)
The Chicago Bulls make plenty of sense as a place for LeBron to call home. After the Cavaliers early exit, plenty of bettors piled in on Chicago reducing their odds to +150, second behind Cleveland. In Chicago, LeBron would have some very talented ad young running mates in Derrick Rose, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah. With an ego as big as his vertical leap, could James live in Michael Jordan's shadow if he chooses Chicago?
New York Knicks (+200)
Let's face it, athletes of LeBron's stature make more money in endorsements then they do with their salaries. That's where the New York Knicks enter the race. Having been maneuvering their roster and salary cap for a couple years now, the Knicks franchise thinks they have what it takes to bring King James to the Big Apple. Going to New York wouldn't be good for James' immediate title hopes. Outside of power forward David Lee, the talent on the Knicks roster is pretty ordinary.
New Jersey Nets (+400)
The Nets have a new Russian playboy owner Mikhail Prokhorov, a new head coach in the likeable Avery Johnson, but the same old roster that could only muster up 12 wins last season. To add insult to injury, the Nets are drafting third in Thursday's NBA Draft despite having the NBA's worst record. They do have some good young pieces in Brook Lopez and Devin Harris, but even with James, they would have a very difficult time making the playoffs - can't see LeBron being too excited about that. However, with the Nets moving to Brooklyn eventually, James would be able to cash-in on all off that New York marketing money touched on earlier.
Miami Heat (+600)
If the Heat could retain Dwayne Wade and sign LeBron, they would be instant NBA title favorites. Wade and James would be the most electrifying one-two punch in NBA history selling out seats across the country. It is hard to imagine that the Heat will be able to sign both superstars. Additionally, will both of these players want to share the ball and spotlight with the other? Doubtful...
LA Clippers (+1000)
Los Angeles' other team is a current betting long shot for James' services. There is some very good young talent on the Clippers' roster, including last year's #1 draft pick Blake Griffin. The Clippers have been the league's laughing stock for years and the franchise quite frankly seems to be cursed. LeBron would fit in right away with all the glitz and glamor of LA, but is he capable of sharing the limelight with Kobe Bryant. Although it is the second biggest city in the U.S., LA might not be big enough for the two of them.
As noted before, this year's NBA free agency class is filled with studs. Here are the betting odds on where these players will sign.
Dwayne Wade
Heat -200
Bulls +300
Knicks +300
Clippers +1000
Nets +1000
Chris Bosh
Bulls +300
Heat +300
Knicks +300
Rockets +300
Clippers +800
Wizards +800
Raptors +1000
Nets +1000
Cavaliers +2000
Amare Stoudemire
Heat +220
Bulls +220
Knicks +220
Nets +500
Suns +700
Wizards +1500
Clippers +1500
Kings +1500
Cavaliers +2000
Carlos Boozer
Nets +300
Bulls +300
Heat +300
Jazz +300
Wizards +700
T-Wolves +700
Knicks +700
Cavaliers +1500
Clippers +1500
