Cleveland’s LeBron James leads a star-studded cast of NBA free agents.
The NBA basketball draft has come and gone. But the Las Vegas Hilton and other sports books are still slow in getting NBA basketball betting odds on next season. Bookies are waiting to see where LeBron James and other superstar free agents are going to land before listing NBA futures.
The Washington Wizards certainly improved themselves nabbing Kentucky point guard John Wall with the No. 1 overall pick. But the real draft begins July 1 when free agency opens. This is going to be the biggest gold rush in NBA history – and the oddsmakers know it.
“I think it’s going to be unlike any other July 1 we’ve ever seen before, and unlike any other we’ll ever see again,” NBA basketball Commissioner David Stern was quoted.
James is the biggest prize. But he’s not the only megastar available. Among the hot free agents are Dwyane Wade, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson and Carlos Boozer.
In addition, Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce and John Salmons have early termination options in their respective contracts, which they could exercise this week.
Sportsbook.com is taking action on where James, Wade, Stoudemire, Bosh and Boozer will end up, plus has odds on who will win 2010-11 NBA Rookie of the Year honors.
Cleveland and Miami are each plus 350 to sign James. New York and New Jersey are both 4/1 to ink the seven-year veteran, while Chicago is 5/1 and the Los Angeles Clippers are 10/1. James cannot sign with any team except the Cavaliers until July 8.
The Bulls strengthened their negotiating hand by dealing Kirk Hinrich to the Wizards. This freed up $9 million in salary-cap space for Chicago. Bookmakers strongly would have to consider making the Bulls one of the favorites to win next year’s NBA title if Chicago were to add two free agent superstars to go with promising point guard Derrick Rose.
Wade, though, is a heavy favorite to re-sign with Miami. Sportsbook.com lists him at minus 1000 to stay with the Heat. The Knicks are 5/1 to sign Wade with the Bulls at 10/1. At 15/1 are the Nets and Clippers.
The Heat has $43 million in space following a trade that sent guard Daequan Cook and the 18th pick (Eric Bledsoe) to Oklahoma City. That move could enable the Heat to not only keep Wade, but add two more high-priced free agents.
The Bulls are expected to get Bosh, according to Sportsbook.com’s odds who has Bosh 1/5 to join Chicago. The Heat is next at 4/1 followed by the Knicks at 5/1. Bosh’s current team, Toronto, is 20/1.
The Raptors haven’t been able to keep their superstars due in part to Toronto’s high taxes. Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter were two former stars that left the Raptors.
Four NBA basketball teams are the co-favorites to pluck Stoudemire. Phoenix, New Jersey, New York and Miami are all plus 220 to get the Suns' big man. The Bulls are 5/1. It would be a mild surprise if Stoudemire opts out of Phoenix.
Miami is even money to sign Boozer. Utah is 3/1 to retain Boozer with New Jersey also listed at 3/1 by Sportsbook.com.
The Nets have become prime candidates to ink free agent superstars thanks to Mikhail Prokhorov, the team’s new billionaire owner from Russia.
Wall is favored to win Rookie of the Year honors next season at 2/1, along with Blake Griffin, who was taken No. 1 overall by the Clippers last season but missed the entire season because of a stress fracture in his left knee.
Evan Turner is next at plus 350. He’s followed by DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Favors and Wesley Johnson, all at 8/1. Greg Monroe is 10/1. Cole Aldrich, Al-Farouq Aminu and Ed Davis are each 15/1.