Trail Blazers Have Middling Odds for 2019 NBA Championship

The Portland Trail Blazers didn’t quite make it to the 2018 NBA Finals, where the incumbent Golden State Warriors recaptured the crown, but if you’re an optimist for 2019 you can get a good return on investment. The day after the Finals, Bovada has released their 2019 NBA Championship odds, and the Blazers sit at 100-1, right in the middle of the pack.

SportsBook Manager Kevin Bradley admits that the numbers are heavily influenced by the upcoming free agency circus surrounding LeBron James. He explains, “We are trying to protect the teams that we believe he might go to and give more value to teams we perceive to be out of the running. There is value to be had if you think you know where LeBron will end up as odds will drop drastically after he signs.”

While a $10,000 return on a $100 bet may seem tempting, a look at the entire list shows the Blazers are nowhere near actual contention.

The Warriors and Houston Rockets starting on top of the pack comes as little surprise, but the Thunder, Jazz, and Timberwolves also sit above the Blazers, along with the LeBron-fueled Lakers and Heat. Portland resides with the Nuggets, Clippers, Pacers, and Wizards...hardly distinguished company. The New York Knicks land right below them. The next team down is the Phoenix Suns.