LeBron James NBA Next-Team Betting Odds: Will Lakers Trade ‘The King’ To Mavericks Or Cavaliers?
NBA bettors have seen a bevy of big names dominate the offseason headlines, and another one has suddenly entered the mix. DraftKings Sportsbook has opened a market for LeBron James, taking bets on where the future Hall of Famer will play his “first regular-season minute” come October. Although the Los Angeles Lakers are massive favorites to retain him, a few organizations are considered potential trade candidates, including Dallas and Cleveland, where James has already called home twice. Let’s assess the next-team odds for LeBron James.
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LeBron James Next-Team Odds: Lakers Heavy Favorites; Mavs & Cavs Trail
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | -800 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +800 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +1100 |
| Golden State Warriors | +1600 |
| Phoenix Suns | +1800 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +2000 |
| New York Knicks | +2500 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +3500 |
| Houston Rockets | +4500 |
Are Lakers A ‘Lock’ To Retain LeBron?
According to the table above, the Lakers are -800 favorites to retain James at the start of the upcoming season. By converting those odds to implied probability, there’s an 88.9% chance he stays put.
On Sunday, James picked up his $52.6 million player option for 2025-26 after a first-round postseason exit with Luka Doncic and Co. Following his decision to opt in, Los Angeles’ title odds dipped from +1600 to +1400 at DraftKings, an indication that it will remain one of the West’s best teams.
However, ESPN insider Shams Charania believes that James and agent Rich Paul are set on “closely monitoring the Lakers’ moves and whether the team is positioning itself this offseason to field a title-contending roster.”
Will the 21-time All-Star shake up the league by requesting a trade, even after the organization signed center Deandre Ayton?
If so, Dallas is a logical landing spot. In this scenario, James would reconnect with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, two stars with whom he has won championships. Although Irving is recovering from a torn ACL, he’s reportedly on track to return in January. The Mavericks also tacked on No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg in the NBA draft, providing them with a long-term plan after Irving, Davis, and Klay Thompson depart.
In July 2023, rumors surfaced that James could join Irving in Dallas on a veteran’s minimum contract, creating cap space for Draymond Green to enter the fold.
Dallas is currently listed at +800 to acquire James. In February, the Mavs shockingly traded Doncic to L.A. Will they return the favor and reel in the four-time NBA Finals MVP?
- Related: Giannis Antetokounmpo Next-Team Odds
Will LeBron Return To Cleveland?
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin added fuel to the fire on Monday, reporting that four teams have contacted Paul in an attempt to spring trade conversations. If the Cavaliers (+1100) are among them and manage to pull off a deal, the four-letter network couldn’t have scripted a better offseason, including Kevin Durant’s impact on the Rockets’ NBA title odds.
Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, and Damian Lillard are out for much or all of next year with torn Achilles’, meaning the East is wide open.
Despite falling to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and James would have the opportunity to become the new “Big 3.” Cleveland has the best odds of winning the NBA Finals () among any Eastern Conference team.
Good luck with your bets on LeBron James odds!
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