Not long after the end of this year, early title odds for the 2020-21 NBA season have been released and the Milwaukee Bucks are among the biggest favorites.
As the Los Angeles Lakers hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy Sunday night, the Milwaukee Bucks could only think about what could have been.
With their season concluding far earlier than expected in disappointing fashion, the Bucks must put that in rearview and begin preparations for another title run next season. According to oddsmakers, they will have a very good chance of doing just that.
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It certainly seems as though the sports books in Las Vegas see that. Per our friends over at The Action Network, PointsBet Sportsbook believes the Bucks currently hold the third-best title odds for next season, coming in at +650.
Ahead of them are the Los Angeles Lakers (+375) and the LA Clippers (+425). Rounding out the top five are the Golden State Warriors (+750) and the Brooklyn Nets (+1000).
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With these odds being assessed based on the current rosters across the association, many believe that the oddsmakers are being a bit too generous after Milwaukee’s second consecutive postseason blunder. That is entirely justifiable, and fans should not be buying into these odds just yet.
While it is welcoming to see the Bucks featured in the upper echelon of title favorites despite their disappointing postseason performance, these odds are subject to change. After all, the NBA is yet to go through free agency, the NBA Draft, or an offseason full of trade rumors that could turn the tide for any contending team.
One such team set to go through some significant changes is the Milwaukee Bucks, which could shift around their title odds.
It is no secret that this Milwaukee roster could look very different by the start of next season. Since their defeat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals at the hands of the Miami Heat, the team has not shied away from their desire to upgrade certain components of the roster.
The first order of business comes in the form of Eric Bledsoe, the team’s starting point guard over the last three seasons. After a third consecutive abysmal postseason outing, The Athletic’s Shams Charania ($$) reported the Bledsoe is “expected to become a potential trade candidate.”
Bucks’ co-owner Marc Lasry also pledged a willingness to spend into the luxury tax to make some roster improvements recently. Milwaukee clearly does not plan on running it back with the same group next season, which essentially throws those way too early title odds out the window.
Regardless, as long as the Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo, which they will for at least one more season, their name will be among those mentioned in the title-contending conversation next season. The most apparent question, however, is who exactly will be playing alongside the MVP.
Until then, fans should not look too much into these current championship odds with so much uncertainty surrounding the roster. No matter who suits up for the Bucks next season, they have some proving to do before everyone starts buying into any talk of a championship, regardless of the odds.
As for when the Milwaukee Bucks might be able to revamp their championship pursuit, reports suggest that the league is eyeing January or February to start the 2021 NBA season. With free agency also expected to begin sometime in December, all eyes will be on the Bucks and what kind of moves they make this offseason.