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    2021 NBA win total odds: Bucks, Lakers on top; James Harden trade rumors holding up Nets, Rockets numbers

    William Hill Sportsbook has released win totals for the 2020-21 NBA season for all but three teams
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    The 2020-21 NBA season will tip off Dec. 22, but the league has not released the 72-game schedules for teams yet. It will announce the first-half schedule around Dec. 1, which is when teams are set to report to training camps. The rest of the schedule will be announced at a later date as the NBA obviously needs to have some contingency plans with the coronavirus raging. That uncertainty hasn't stopped William Hill Sportsbook from releasing win totals for most teams, with the Milwaukee Bucks atop the list at Over/Under 51 wins. All win totals are likely to change, and some perhaps soon with free agency opening Friday evening.

    The Bucks have led the NBA in regular-season wins each of the past two seasons but were upset in the Eastern Conference playoffs both times. In theory, this could be superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo's final season with Milwaukee, as he can hit unrestricted free agency next offseason.

    However, the Bucks are doing everything they can to appease the Greek Freak, trading for Pelicans All-Star Jrue Holiday to improve the team around their star player. The Bucks also had agreed to a sign-and-deal trade for Kings sharpshooter Bogdan Bogdanovic, but that has since collapsed as Bogdanovic has decided to enter restricted free agency. Milwaukee will offer Giannis a supermax contract, and he has until Dec. 21 to sign it; rumors are that he will, but if he doesn't, that will shape the entire season.

    The defending NBA champion Lakers are set at Over/Under 47 wins. Los Angeles will have had barely two months in between beating the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals in the Orlando bubble and the start of this season. Thus do not be surprised if the Lakers give LeBron James and Anthony Davis a lot of games off early in the season -- and perhaps give one of the two the second of a back-to-back off all year. The Lakers don't care about getting the top seed in the Western Conference or how many wins they get; just getting into the playoffs is all that matters. Under 47 could be a great wager. L.A. remains the William Hill betting favorite to repeat. 

    William Hill is holding off on win totals for the Nets, Rockets and Warriors.

    "Both of those teams and Warriors are still under consideration going into the weekend given potential moves and injury news," said a William Hill spokesperson.

    The Nets and Rockets totals are on hold because of a possible trade that could send Houston superstar and three-time NBA scoring champion James Harden to Brooklyn – which is what Harden wants -- to join forces with fellow All-Stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Needless to say, that would affect both teams' win totals. Houston's also would change when/if it trades Russell Westbrook.

    Golden State just learned it lost five-time All-Star guard Klay Thompson to a season-ending Achilles' tendon injury but has agreed to a trade to fill Thompson's spot with Kelly Oubre Jr. from Oklahoma City. Oubre is no Thompson but a fairly decent replacement considering how close it is to the season.

    The Thunder are in full tank mode in trading away the likes of Chris Paul, Dennis Schroder, Oubre (who came to Oklahoma City in the Paul deal) and Ricky Rubio (also came in Paul deal), who was shipped to Minnesota. Oklahoma City has a win total of 29.5.

    The clear early favorite to be the top pick in the 2021 NBA Draft is Oklahoma State freshman Cade Cunningham, and the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers are given the lowest win totals this season at 22 each. The Knicks and Hornets are next at 24.

    The teams with the three worst records would all have a 14 percent chance of winning the 2021 draft lottery. The 2021 NBA Draft class is considered far superior to the Class of 2020 in early evaluations.

    Opening William Hill win totals (72-game sked; Rockets, Nets and Warriors TBA)

    • Bucks 51
    • Lakers 47
    • Clippers 46.5
    • Celtics 46.5
    • Nuggets 44.5
    • Heat 44.5
    • Mavericks 43
    • Raptors 43
    • 76ers 43
    • Jazz 41
    • Pacers 40
    • Trail Blazers 38.5
    • Suns 37.5
    • Pelicans 35.5
    • Grizzlies 32.5
    • Hawks 31.5
    • Magic 31.5
    • Thunder 29.5
    • Spurs 29.5
    • Wizards 29
    • Bulls 29
    • Kings 28.5
    • Timberwolves 27.5
    • Hornets 24
    • Knicks 24
    • Pistons 22
    • Cavaliers 22
    SportsLine Staff

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