There is a cliché that when something really unusual happens, people will say, “What are the odds?” It may seem odd to think that NBA superstar Lebron James would leave the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he has done so before, and there are many that seem positive that he will be ready to do it again this summer when he can opt out of his current contract.
Even as his team prepares for the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics, many around the NBA wonder if this will be the last season for James in Cleveland. Most basketball insiders believe that this will be his last season in Ohio, including Shaun Powell, who believes that there is a 70 percent chance he is out the door.
So, what are the odds that Lebron will stay? Will he be a Laker? Will he head somewhere else? BetDSI Sportsbook provides you with the latest odds on LeBron James “The Decision” Part II.
Stays in Cleveland (+125) – Despite the fact that Lebron James has left the Cleveland Cavaliers before, consider that he loves his hometown. No one was more excited about the Cavaliers winning the NBA title a few seasons ago than James himself, and he would likely want to stay in his hometown.
There are other teams that may seem more lucrative and glamorous, but the reality is that James will likely want to retire as a Cavalier and, should he leave the team for the second time, it would be hard to imagine him returning for a third team to close out his career.
Los Angeles Lakers (+375) – this seems to be the hot conversation. The Lakers want to be relevant again, and no one would give them more credibility, much less wins, than Lebron. He would instantly turn this young Lakers team into a playoff team and help to return the Lakers to prominence.
There are two factors that make this unlikely, however. The first is that even with LeBron James, the Lakers would not be the best team in the West. They would not even be in the top three. The Western Conference is staked, and the road to the championship series will continue to go through the Golden States Warriors for at least three or four more seasons. Lebron is not that much of a difference maker to push this team to the finals.
In addition, Lavar Ball looms over any decision he will make. Lonzo Ball could be a real talent, but his dad is as obnoxious as any person in sports and has been openly antagonistic of the best player in the world. That may cause Lebron to avoid a year of listening to a man who knows very little about the NBA. Lebron may live in L.A. now, but he won’t be going here.
Houston Rockets (+375) – should the Rockets land Lebron, they would have two of the best five players in the league, joining James Harden. That should make them competitive, but would they be better than the Warriors? The likelihood is no, and that may cause him to rethink that idea.
Philadelphia 76ers (+375) – if Lebron leaves Cleveland, Philadelphia would be a perfect choice. This is a young team with an enormous amount of talent, but James would be the kind of superstar addition that would make the 76ers the team to beat in the East for 3-4 years or more. Boston would be easily surpassed and Philadelphia would dominate this conference.
Add to it that he would not be very far from his home state and this would be a decision that makes a lot of sense.
Golden State Warriors (+1000) – the long shot would be that Lebron joins the Golden State Warriors. While unlikely, this is an intriguing possibility. Consider that if Lebron James joined Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and the rest, this would be a team that would challenge the Chicago Bulls teams of the 70s and the Lakers teams of the 80s as maybe the best club of all time. There would be three Hall of Famers on that squad, maybe four, and they would likely win the NBA title for as long as King James continued to play.
It will be an intriguing summer for sure, but one factor to keep in mind. Should the Cavaliers win the title, there will be those who will think it is an absolute certainty that he will move, now that he would have won the title with the Cavs twice.
