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Every NBA team's odds to win the 2018-19 championship
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Every NBA team's odds to win the 2018-19 championship

Can LeBron, the Los Angeles Lakers or any team in the West place any pressure on Golden State? Ryan Fowler breaks down each team's chances of winning the 2018-19 NBA Championship.

 
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The Golden Age of basketball

The Golden Age of basketball
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

It's the Golden State Warriors' NBA until further notice. Over the past four seasons, they've averaged 66 regular-season wins, made four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals and raised— or in Steph Curry's case gazed lovingly at — three Larry O'Brien Trophies. Even the most casual NBA fan knows the Warriors remain the overwhelming favorite to hoist L'Ob again, but ahead of the 2018-19 season, each franchise possesses odds to win it all. Remember, the NHL expansion Las Vegas Knights nearly shocked the world earlier this summer after being tagged with improbable preseason odds.

"Anything is possible." - Kevin Garnett 

Note: Odds example +35,000 means if you bet $100, you'd win $35,000 and +500, if you bet $100, you'd win $500. In cases of -200, bettors need to wager $200 to win $100.

 
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Memphis Grizzlies (+50,000)

Memphis Grizzlies (+50,000)
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Grizzlies 2017-18 campaign was a lost season — literally . Mike Conley lost 70 games due to injury. Their head coach, David Fizdale, lost after a questionable firing. Memphis also lost its consecutive playoff streak, which ended after seven straight seasons. In a loaded conference, the Grizz need more than Conley, Marc Gasol and fourth-overall pick, Jaren Jackson Jr., to compete for an NBA Championship.

 
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Sacramento Kings (+50,000)

Sacramento Kings (+50,000)
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

It's been 12 years since the Kings last sniffed the postseason, which is the NBA's longest active playoff drought. Despite a roster featuring a nice collection of young talent, Sacramento's leading scorer last season was veteran Zach Randolph. As they wait for their young nucleus to take their next steps, the front office remains hopeful 2018's second-overall pick, Marvin Bagley, maintains those eyes of the tiger and stays hungry throughout 2018-19 and beyond.

 
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Orlando Magic (+45,000)

Orlando Magic (+45,000)
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

While the Warriors and Cavs have met in each of the past four NBA Finals, the Magic have featured five different head coaches during the span. Yikes. After reaching the playoffs six consecutive seasons, Orlando has failed to qualify for the postseason in each of the past six. Aaron Gordon is just one piece to the puzzle, but entering his fifth season, he needs to take the bull by the horns and lead this franchise.

 
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Brooklyn Nets (+45,000)

Brooklyn Nets (+45,000)
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

The Nets are in the midst of a rebuild with a ton of salary cap money to spend next summer. Their starting five all return from last season, but it's imperative D'Angelo Russell embrace that leadership role in this, his fourth season, after missing 34 games last campaign. Don't sleep on Jarrett Allen (pictured). The 20-year-old big man could become one of the NBA's top rim protectors.

 
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Cleveland Cavs (+45,000)

Cleveland Cavs (+45,000)
Gregory Shamus-USA TODAY Sports

What a difference a LeBron James makes, eh? The trade of Kyrie Irving to Boston last summer and James' departure to Los Angeles a few months ago are microcosms of why Cleveland has such a tortured fan base. Kevin Love takes over as the team's leader and while on-court reality won't be as bad as it currently looks on paper, there is now a Grand Canyon-sized gap between the Cavs and Warriors.

 
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Phoenix Suns (+40,000)

Phoenix Suns (+40,000)
Mark J. Rebilas

You're looking at three integral pieces of the Suns' future success as potential Western Conference contenders. You're also looking at a currently injured Devin Booker, who underwent surgery on his shooting hand three weeks ago. He's projected to miss some games to start the season. Big man and 2018 top overall draft pick, DeAndre Ayton, and 2017-18 All-Rookie Josh Jackson will carry this work-in-progress squad until Booker's return.

 
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Atlanta Hawks (+40,000)

Atlanta Hawks (+40,000)
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

If the Hawks played in the Western Conference, their NBA Championship odds may be +75,000. As their roster rebuild is currently constructed, Atlanta has a great shot at earning the top overall draft pick next summer. If you're looking for a player to watch, keep an eye on Taurean Prince who played all 82 games last year and was the team's second-leading scorer.

 
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New York Knicks (+40,000)

New York Knicks (+40,000)
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Kristaps Porzingis' timetable to return to the New York Knicks following an ACL tear last season is TBD because doctors say there is no precedent for a 7-foot-3 NBA stretch center returning from this type of knee surgery. Expect first-round draft pick Kevin Knox (pictured) to play a big role immediately.

 
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Chicago Bulls (+30,000)

Chicago Bulls (+30,000)
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

By losing Lauri Markkanen for the next six-to-eight weeks to an elbow injury suffered in practice, Chicago will be without a guy who averaged 15 points and seven rebounds per game during last year's rookie season. The Bulls will feature a trio of Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and Jabari Parker, who are all former top 12 draft picks and are all under 25 years old.

 
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Charlotte Hornets (+30,000)

Charlotte Hornets (+30,000)
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Hornets have finished 11th, sixth and 11th in the Eastern Conference standings in each of the past three seasons. Where are they going? Are they contenders? Well, considering their 11th-place conference finish a season ago and the fact they return the same starting five, their odds of contending appear slim.

 
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Detroit Pistons (+30,000)

Detroit Pistons (+30,000)
Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

It's hard to imagine a franchise like the Pistons, steeped in history, missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, but that's Detroit's reality. In fact, the team has missed the playoffs eight of the past nine seasons. They have $57 million wrapped up in their two post players, Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond, and oddsmakers have little reason to believe they can compete for an Eastern Conference title let alone the NBA Championship.

 
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Miami Heat (+30,000)

Miami Heat (+30,000)
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Miami will feature basically the same roster as a season ago when they finished 44-38 and were knocked out in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. If they improve any this  season will depend on the play of Hassan Whiteside who averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds and nearly two blocks per game last season.

 
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Los Angeles Clippers (+25,000)

Los Angeles Clippers (+25,000)
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Clippers missed the playoffs and finished with fewer than 51 wins for the first time under Doc Rivers last season. Gone is Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, but they did trade for Martin Gortat and do feature 6th Man of the Year, Lou Williams. It's great to feature the NBA's best player off the bench, but the Clippers need more from their starting five.

 
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Dallas Mavericks (+25,000)

Dallas Mavericks (+25,000)
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Although they play different position, Germany's Dirk Nowitzki will be passing the torch to Slovenia's Luka Doncic this season. The Mavericks traded Trae Young and a protected 2019 draft pick to acquire the 19-year Euroleague superstar. With the addition of DeAndre Jordan, too, Dallas will drastically improve upon last year's 24-58 record.

 
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Portland Trail Blazers (+15,000)

Portland Trail Blazers (+15,000)
Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

Can somebody, anybody pick up Damian Lillard? This is meant both literally and figuratively because during his first six years, the Trail Blazers have worked to build a supporting cast around him but failed to reach the Western Conference finals. While the top of the West remains loaded, Portland didn't make enough noise via trade or free agency to think this playoff pattern will change.

 
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Minnesota Timberwolves (+15,000)

Minnesota Timberwolves (+15,000)
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Karl-Anthony Towns signed a five-year, $190 million contract a few weeks ago, but not all that glitters is gold or peachy keen up in Minnesota. Jimmy Butler reportedly wants out, and much of the fan base would like to see an "underachieving" Andrew Wiggins follow him out the door. All this drama is playing out just months after the Timberwolves' first playoff appearance in 14 years.

 
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New Orleans Pelicans (+12,500)

New Orleans Pelicans (+12,500)
Ezra Shaw-USA TODAY Sports

"If DeMarcus Cousins resigned with the Pels, he wouldn't be back from an Achilles' heel injury until 2019 anyway"  is an irrelevant take. Former Lakers power forward and New Orleans' big free agency signee, Julius Randle, is a talented player, but he's not replacing Cousins' 25 points and 13 rebounds per game. The Anthony Davis-to-the-Lakers rumors will sit heavy with fans until their franchise player makes his own decision.

 
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Denver Nuggets (+12,500)

Denver Nuggets (+12,500)
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

By keeping their starting five together, the Nuggets have a great shot at snapping their five-year playoff drought. Denver just missed the Western Conference playoffs last year, but Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic are two franchise cornerstones who can get them over the hump.

 
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Indiana Pacers (+12,500)

Indiana Pacers (+12,500)
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

With LeBron gone, most of the Eastern Conference love has been shown to the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers and rightfully so. But don't sleep on the Pacers. The trio of Darren Collison, Victor Oladipo and Myles Turner can lead Indy to the conference finals for the first time since 2014.

Fun fact: Indiana's 16-man training camp roster consists of four former UCLA Bruins.

 
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Washington Wizards (+10,000)

Washington Wizards (+10,000)
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

John Wall and Bradley Beal better have each other's backs when the cheers fade to jeers this season. The Wizards squeaked into the playoffs with a 43-39 record last spring, but their big offseason splash was signing Dwight Howard to replace Marcin Gortat, who was traded to the Clippers. Washington has qualified for the playoffs in four of the past five seasons but hasn't been to the Eastern Conference finals since 1979.

 
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Milwaukee Bucks (+10,000)

Milwaukee Bucks (+10,000)
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Bucks have lost in the first round of the playoffs in four of the past six seasons. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and his 27 points and 10 rebounds per game average, has Milwaukee in its best position to capture the East since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar donned the deer.

 
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San Antonio Spurs (+8,000)

San Antonio Spurs (+8,000)
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Life, death, taxes and Gregg Popovich's San Antonio Spurs as a playoff contender. Every season since 1997-98, when Pop became head coach, San Antonio has qualified for the playoffs. Kawhi Leonard was sent packing to Toronto in exchange for DeMar DeRozan whose scoring ability should boost a team that averaged the fourth-fewest points per game last season (102.7).

 
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Utah Jazz (+7,200)

Utah Jazz (+7,200)
Russell Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Featuring the Rookie of the Year runner-up, Donovan Mitchell, and Defensive POY, Rudy Gobert, the Jazz continue to work toward their first trip to the Western Conference finals in more than a decade. They've reached the conference semifinals in each of the past two seasons and should receive a boost off the bench with a (finally) healthy Dante Exum.

 
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Oklahoma City Thunder (+3,000)

Oklahoma City Thunder (+3,000)
Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

After securing the West's No. 4 seed last spring, the Thunder have now qualified for the postseason in eight of the past nine seasons but boast only one NBA Finals trip. Paul George's decision to stick around and maintain the two-headed monster with Russell Westbrook gave OKC's front office the green light to upgrade the bench by trading for Dennis Schroder and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot while also taking a flier on Nerlens Noel.

 
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Philadelphia 76ers (+1,600)

Philadelphia 76ers (+1,600)
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

If you take a quick glance up and down Philly's roster, it's no surprise the Sixers are a favorite to win it all. Joel Embiid's and Ben Simmons' health concerns seem to be ancient history. Embiid averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds per game last season, while Simmons could post double-digit points, assists and rebounds in what would be considered his sophomore season this year. Also, keep an eye on Landry Shamet coming off the bench.

 
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Toronto Raptors (+1,400)

Toronto Raptors (+1,400)
Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Toronto's leading scorer the past five seasons, DeMar DeRozan, may be gone, but so is LeBron. James had this habit of knocking the Raptors out of the Eastern Conference Playoffs on an annual basis. While Toronto retained Kyle Lowry, their new-look starting lineup will feature defensive wizards Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. 

 
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Los Angeles Lakers (+1,000)

Los Angeles Lakers (+1,000)
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

In addition to inking LeBron this past summer, the Lakers added veteran role players Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, JaVale McGee and Michael Beasley. Second-year point guard Lonzo Ball is recovering from offseason knee surgery. Once healthy, he'll rejoin a starting five that features James, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Ivica Zubac. If not for King James, the Lakers NBA Championship odds easily would be outside the top 20.

 
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Houston Rockets (+850)

Houston Rockets (+850)
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Houston came one win shy of reaching the 2018 NBA Finals. If not for Chris Paul's hamstring injury, most believe the Rockets would have beat the Warriors in Game 6 or 7. CP3 and James Harden welcome $28 million free agent Carmelo Anthony to the starting lineup this season. Their big man, Clint Capela, averaged nearly 14 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks per game and is an elite rim protector.

 
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Boston Celtics (+500)

Boston Celtics (+500)
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Just like the Rockets dropped back-to-back games to the Warriors, Boston blew a 3-2 Eastern Conference Finals lead over the Cavaliers to miss a trip back to the NBA Finals. However, the Celtics got there without both Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving — both missed the 2018 playoffs due to injury. But they are healthy now and join a loaded Celtics roster, which features First Team All-Rookie Jayson Tatum. The 21-year-old rising star averaged better than 18 points per game during last year's playoffs and is a big reason why Boston is a title contender.

 
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Golden State Warriors (-195)

Golden State Warriors (-195)
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

If you believe the Warriors will win their fourth NBA Championship in five years, you'd need to wager $195 for every $100 profit you'd like to receive. To possess these strong odds weeks before the start of the regular season is a byproduct of Golden State's front office mojo building a roster of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green. Oh, and so long as his rehab goes as planned, the Warriors will get one of the NBA's most dominant big men in early 2019 when DeMarcus Cousins returns from a torn Achilles. Best of luck to the league's other 29 teams.

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