Odds updated on 2018-19 teams of LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard
Two of the NBA's biggest superstars may be on the move this off-season. Then again, they may not be.
LeBron James will be a free agent if he opts out of the final year of his deal with the Cavaliers as expected.
Kawhi Leonard, meanwhile, still has one year left on his contract with the Spurs, but has strongly indicated he wants out of San Antonio.
Will either actually be on new teams for next season?
Nothing will officially happen before July 1, when the new season begins, but trades and deals get approved well before then.
Online sportsbook BetDSI.eu has posted odds on the futures of both James and Leonard.
KAWHI LEONARD'S TEAM TO START 2018-19 REGULAR SEASON
Boston Celtics +225 (risk $100 to win $225)
Philadelphia 76ers +350
San Antonio Spurs +400
Los Angeles Lakers +500
Phoenix Suns +700
Los Angeles Clippers +1600
Field (Any Other Team) +150
Leonard, according to sources, has grown apart from the franchise that he's played seven seasons with, boiling over with the handling of a quad injury that limited him to just seven games last season.
Leonard may command a supermax five-year, $219 million extension from San Antonio next summer, but he's supposedly OK taking lesser money for a fresh start elsewhere.
Leonard met with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich this week and reportedly stood firm on his desire to be playing elsewhere.
PICK: BetDSI is reporting 50 percent of all wagers taken have been on the Lakers, while another 25 percent have been on the Suns.
The Spurs have complete control over where he plays, and supposedly the Leonard-Popovich summit went well enough to schedule future discussions. That said, if re-signing him to a megadeal isn't in the works, San Antonio may be better off getting a sizeable return for him in a trade, as opposed to letting him walk with nothing to show for it. There are many possible trades to consider.
Leonard wants to go to the Lakers, and L.A. has some nice pieces to trade. But would the Spurs trade him there so he could possibly be part of a third "superteam" to compete with in the Western Conference? That certainly doesn't sound like something in the best interests of the team.
The Suns, likely years away from competing for a title, make sense in that respect. But I look for the Spurs to focus on Eastern Conference squads.
Boston reportedly inquired about a mid-season trade for Leonard. If the Celtics can find the right pieces, it makes sense for the Spurs to jettison their disgruntled star to the East.
The Celtics are on the cusp of looking like a superteam, with Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward returning from injury to go along with a young nucleus that came one win away from an unlikely NBA Finals berth.
I wouldn't be shocked if Popovich and Leonard find a way to make it work for the time being. But if he doesn't stay in San Antonio, look for Celtics GM Danny Ainge to pull off a megadeal.
LEBRON JAMES' TEAM TO START 2018-19 REGULAR SEASON
Los Angeles Lakers -250 (risk $250 to win $100)
Philadelphia 76ers +350 (risk $100 to win $350)
Cleveland Cavaliers +425
Houston Rockets +700
Boston Celtics +900
San Antonio Spurs +1200
New York Knicks +3000
Washington Wizards +4500
Miami Heat +5000
Golden State Warriors +5000
Oklahoma City Thunder +5000
Chicago Bulls +9500
Field (Any Other Team) +750
Obviously, this is the move every other team is waiting for before solidifying off-season plans, even at James' "advanced" age of 33.
He's been to eight-consecutive NBA Finals, winning three titles including one with his hometown Cavs. This season's struggles not only highlighted James' greatness for leading the team to the Finals once more, but management's inability to secure the talent needed to help him compete with the Warriors. Questionable coaching and inconsistent play from teammates clearly frustrated No. 23.
James would be opting out of a $35 million deal, but clearly money is less a factor as competing for rings. He'll make megabucks regardless of where he is.
PICK: The Lakers were at +200 just two weeks ago, now at -250. BetDSI said 30 percent of all bets have been on the Lakers, with another 20 percent on the Cavs (who have dropped from +3000 to +425).
There are reasons to pick most every team on this list, but the Lakers are at the top of it for so many reasons it's the logical pick.
From a basketball standpoint, the Lakers have a strong, young nucleus to build around. For second, they have a wealth of cap space and maneuverability to go out and add not just LeBron, but Paul George and even make a trade for a player like Leonard.
Turn last season's starters into next season's depth, and you have a superteam.
We haven't even touched on the personal reasons: He just bought a new home in the L.A. area and he spends his off-seasons there, not to many his many entrepreneurial endeavors, including a TV production company.
Cleveland is a sleeper because of LeBron's loyalty, but he returned to his home state and won a title for them. He's free to go without feeling guilty, especially if management can't secure the pieces around him to compete with the Warriors and Rockets of the world.
In the interest of competing with the Warriors, Houston is the other big sleeper. The Rockets are the closest to competing with Golden State -- adding LeBron puts them over the edge.
I also could see the Knicks, if they can secure George and/or Leonard to form a new Eastern Conference powerhouse.
But still, the Lakers make too much sense. Go with LeBron leaving his first home and going to his current home: L.A.
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