Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images. Pictured: Russell Westbrook, Dennis Schroder.
With the news on Thursday that the Lakers are finalizing a deal to acquire Russell Westbrook, betting odds for Los Angeles to win the 2022 NBA Championship shortened considerably.
The Lakers are now +375 to win it all at PointsBet after they were as high as +650 to do so earlier in the day. The line had gradually shortened amid rumors that the Lakers were preparing for a trade.
_BookPromo=19
If finalized, Westbrook would join LeBron James and Anthony Davis for the third “Big Three” iteration of James’ career.
The Brooklyn Nets are still +250 favorites to win it all next season. The Lakers are second-best favorites at their current mark, and the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks are a distant third with +800 odds.
2022 NBA Championship Odds
Odds according to PointsBet as of Thursday afternoon
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Nets | +250 |
| Lakers | +375 |
| Bucks | +800 |
| Warriors | +900 |
| Suns | +900 |
| Jazz | +1100 |
| 76ers | +1200 |
| Clippers | +1400 |
| Heat | +2000 |
| Nuggets | +3000 |
| Hawks | +3300 |
| Mavericks | +3300 |
| Celtics | +4000 |
| Trail Blazers | +5000 |
| Knicks | +6000 |
| Grizzlies | +8000 |
| Pelicans | +8000 |
| Raptors | +8000 |
| Wizards | +8000 |
The Golden State Warriors — who have the seventh and 14th picks in tonight’s NBA Draft, which is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET — are tied with the Phoenix Suns for the fourth-best odds to win the title.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would head to D.C. in exchange for Westbrook. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski later added that a first-round pick would also headed Washington’s way.
Westbrook averaged 22.2 points, an NBA-leading 11.7 assists and 11.5 rebounds over 36.4 minutes per game last season.
His usage rate was eighth in the NBA with 38.7% — just above James, who finished in ninth with 38.6%, according to ESPN. Davis finished 40th in the league with a 32.2% usage rate.