NBA Finals 2020 Odds: Heat, Rockets Considered Top Threats To Lakers, Clippers, Bucks After Trades

The Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks are the clear favorites to win the 2020 NBA Finals, all given no worse than 3/1 championship odds. Following Thursday’s trade deadline, one team from each conference has been named the top threat to the league’s frontrunners at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.

The Houston Rockets have 14/1 betting odds to win the title after being involved in a 12-player trade. The Miami Heat are second in the East with 18/1 odds.

NBA Championship updated

LAL 9/4
LAC, Mil 3/1
Hou 14/1
Mia 18/1
Bos 20/1
Phi, Tor, Den, Uta 30/1
Dal 40/1
Por, Ind, NO 100/1
OKC, Bkn 300/1
SAS, Orl, Mem 1000/1
Chi, Sac, Det, Phx 2000/1
GS, NYK, Atl, Cha, Min, Wsh, Cle 10,000/1
— Jeff Sherman (@golfodds) February 6, 2020

Miami acquired Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill from the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team deal in exchange for Justise Winslow, James Johnson and Dion Waiters. The Heat had 50/1 odds on Christmas Eve to win the NBA Finals.

The Lakers and Clippers had both been pursuing Iguodala. The three-time champion hasn’t played all season, waiting for a trade to a contender. He averaged 9.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals per game in the 2019 playoffs.

The Heat are the East’s No.4 seed with a 34-16 record, trailing the No.2 seed Toronto Raptors (30/1) by 2.5 games in the standings. Miami has already beaten the Philadelphia 76ers (30/1) three times in four tries. Philadelphia entered the season thought to be Milwaukee’s biggest challengers.

Houston acquired Robert Covington and sent Clint Capela to the Atlanta Hawks in a four-team trade. The move will force the Rockets to take the ultimate “small-ball” approach, relying on no player taller than 6’7.

The new lineup worked just hours after the trade deadline when Houston beat the Lakers 121-111, despite only getting 14 points from James Harden. Russell Westbrook led the way with 41 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Covington had 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists, shooting 4-7 from three-point range in his Houston debut. The forward averaged 12.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in 48 contests with the Minnesota Timberwolves, shooting 34.6% from behind the arc.

The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook gave the Rockets 10/1 championship odds on Christmas Eve.

The Boston Celtics have gone from 16/1 odds to 20/1 odds. Philadelphia was second in the East with 12/1 odds just a few weeks ago.