Will LeBron James leave his beloved Cleveland Cavaliers next season to become a Los Angeles Laker? At least one internet betting site believes he will and is offering odds on the proposition.
James has not made any public comments on his future after this season. But BetDSI has a “yes” line of -300 that the superstar will be on the Lakers roster on Oct. 1. The “no” is a +240.
The site is also offering speculators a wager on the likelihood of another All Star joining him. Paul George, currently of the Oklahoma City Thunder, becomes a free agent in July. He is a -750 to join Los Angeles and a +400 to either stay with the Thunder or go to another team other than the Lakers.
Reading Lakers Tea Leaves
In anticipation of the Lakers entering the James sweepstakes and possibly luring George as well, the team made a trade on the day of the deadline last Thursday to clear cap space. Sending Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance, Jr., to the Cavaliers gave the team financial wiggle room to sign both James and George.
Lakers President Magic Johnson told media at a press conference that he wasn’t satisfied staying pat and wants his team to make the playoffs and eventually challenge for a title.
“I don’t want to stay where we are,” Johnson said. “I don’t want to be on the outside of the playoffs looking in. We have to take another step, right? So this move allows us to position ourselves to hopefully take that next step.”
Only problem is James has taking a liking to his new teammates. The Cavaliers not only added Clarkson and Nance Jr., but George Hill and Rodney Hood. The team went to rival Boston on Sunday and blew out the Celtics, 121-99.
“At the end of the day, I just like being around guys who want to play and work hard,” James told the locker room media after the win against the Celtics. “I know I demand a lot of excellence out of my teammates, but I demand out of myself, too.”
The team had been mired in a slump recently losing 9 of 13. There is now renewed optimism in Cleveland and the hope is that James will stay.
Paul George Thrown in Mix
Even though he is from Southern California, George has expressed an interest in remaining with the Thunder. He was brought in at the beginning of the season to form a power trio, along with Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony. The three have had trouble coexisting at times, but George is starting to see some positive signs.
George told ESPN that despite some rough patches the team should be a force during the playoffs.
“I won’t rule anything out, but I’m definitely happy where I’m at,” he said. “I like where we’re going, and I wanna see how this unfolds.”
That opinion only got stronger when Westbrook lambasted George’s omission from the this year’s All Star team. It impressed George and might sway him to stay.
“It was awesome for a teammate to have your back and to stand up,” he said.