Kevin Durant Odds: Lakers, Warriors, 76ers, Knicks Top the Lines for 2019
November 16, 2018
Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant may be on the verge of creating the NBA's next superteam, according to odds released Friday.
Per ESPN's Arash Markazi, BetDSI Sportsbook favors the Los Angeles Lakers as Durant's most likely landing spot during free agency next offseason:
Arash Markazi @ArashMarkaziOdds on where Kevin Durant will play next season via @BetDSI: Los Angeles Lakers +150 Golden State Warriors +300 Philadelphia 76ers +500 New York Knicks +750 Brooklyn Nets +1500 Dallas Mavericks +2500 San Antonio Spurs +3000 Washington Wizards +3500 Los Angeles Clippers +5000
The Lakers are favored to sign Durant and pair him with LeBron James at 3-2 (+150) odds followed by the Warriors retaining KD at 3-1 (+300).
Most of the other options are long shots, but the Philadelphia 76ers sit at 5-1 (+500), and the New York Knicks are 15-2 (+750) to make a franchise-altering move.
The 30-year-old Durant is in the midst of his third season with the Warriors, and he has already led them to two NBA championships, both of which culminated in him being named NBA Finals MVP.
Durant is off to perhaps his best start to a season since joining the Warriors, as he is averaging 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game for a team that leads the Western Conference with a 12-4 record.
Things haven't been perfect for KD, though, as he got into a heated argument with teammate Draymond Green during Monday's overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Green was suspended one game as a result of the incident, and according to Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic, Green questioned Durant's loyalty to the team due to the manner in which he has handled questions about his upcoming free agency.
If Durant signs with the Lakers, it will mark the second consecutive offseason in which they have landed a marquee player, as they signed LeBron away from the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer.
L.A. would likely become the championship favorite in the Western Conference with James and Durant leading a talented team that also includes Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma.
Between them, James and Durant own 23 All-Star nods, five MVP awards, five NBA championships and five NBA Finals MVP awards.
Signing with Philly is likely only possible for Durant if the Sixers do not re-sign All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler, who was acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday for Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless and a 2022 second-round pick.
Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are two of the best young players in the NBA, and Durant may be the missing piece if Butler can't help get the 76ers to the Finals this year.
The Knicks have the least to offer Durant in terms of the talent that would surround them, but they do boast All-Star big man Kristaps Porzingis, who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered last season.
Although New York hasn't reached the playoffs since 2012-13, Durant has long been linked to the organization due to the allure of playing in the Big Apple.
Other teams listed as possible landing spots for Durant include the Brooklyn Nets at 15-1 (+1,500), the Dallas Mavericks at 25-1 (+2,500), the San Antonio Spurs at 30-1 (+3,000), his hometown Washington Wizards at 35-1 (+3,500) and the Los Angeles Clippers at 50-1 (+5,000).