HOU lands Westbrook, Plus Updated Odds
How did the Russell Westbrook trade impact the 2020 NBA Championship odds for the Thunder, Rockets and other contenders in the league? Here’s an updated look at next season’s NBA title odds.
On Thursday night, the Thunder agreed to trade Westbrook to the Rockets in exchange for Chris Paul, first-round picks in 2024 and 2026, as well as pick swaps in 2021 and 2025. Westbrook reunites with James Harden in the move and adds more intrigue to an already fascinating Western Conference in 2019-20.
According to oddsmakers from online sportsbook Sportsbook.com, the Rockets are now 9/1 to win the 2020 NBA Championship. Only three teams have better odds to win the title next season, including the Clippers at 7/2, the Bucks at 11/2 and the Lakers at 6/1.
As for the Thunder, they get CP3 but they’re clearly in rebuild mode after essentially being forced to trade their two best players this offseason. Paul George requested a trade to the Clippers two weeks ago so he could play in his home state of California and pair with Kawhi Leonard. Following the trade of Westbrook, OKC is now loaded with future draft picks but is short on talent to compete with the Clippers, Lakers and Rockets in the Western Conference.
Following their trade of Westbrook, the Thunder are now sizable underdogs to win next season’s championship. Listed among teams like the Timberwolves (250/1) and Bulls (300/1), the Thunder are 250/1 to win it all next season. That’s quite the turnaround from a year ago when they believed they could make noise in the Western Conference with the duo of Westbrook and George.
Meanwhile, the 76ers are 10/1 to win the 2020 NBA Championship, followed by the Warriors at 12/1 and the Nuggets and Jazz at 16/1, respectively. The Celtics are 25/1, the Blazers are 35/1 and the new-look Nets are 40/1, although only because Kevin Durant is likely to miss most, if not all of the 2019-20 NBA season as he recovers from an Achilles injury.