Spurs have seventh-best odds at 2019 NBA championship

The San Antonio Spurs rank in the top 10 for the highest odds to win the 2019 NBA championship.

The San Antonio Spurs fell well short of the 2018 NBA title with a loss in the first round of the playoffs, thanks to the Golden State Warriors, who represent the Western Conference in the Finals. However, the 2018-19 season will start yet another campaign for the Silver and Black to reach their goal.

Since the 2018 Finals are here, it has already started an early look-ahead at the 2019 postseason. Whoever may be in it, Westgate’s Jeff Sherman released the early odds for the next NBA champion.

The Spurs, despite a finish at No. 7 in the West and the aforementioned early elimination, received 25/1 odds, the seventh-best among teams from both conferences. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder are among the teams that fall after them.

2018-19 NBA Championship

Warriors 5/4Rockets 7/276ers 7/2Celtics 8/1Lakers 20/1Heat 20/1Spurs 25/1Cavaliers 30/1Raptors 40/1Jazz 60/1Thunder 60/1Trail Blazers 80/1Pelicans 80/1Timberwolves 80/1Nuggets 100/1Knicks 100/1Pacers 100/1Clippers 100/1Wizards 100/1

— Jeff Sherman (@golfodds) June 2, 2018

That likely presumes Kawhi Leonard remains with the team, as the Spurs won 60-plus games in back-to-back seasons with him healthy. A right quadriceps injury took Leonard out of the lineup for all but nine games this season.

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The Warriors at the top is no surprise, given their superstar roster of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green that shows no sign of slowing down, and are potentially on their way to a third title in four years (sans Durant, who was not part of the 2015 championship).

After strong showings from young talent, the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics received top odds. However, with speculation on LeBron James and the Sixers, this might factor into the high odds, or the potential for them to increase.

The Los Angeles Lakers have the most interesting spot of them all, though. They have young talents in Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, but missed the playoffs and remain a few steps behind the West’s playoff teams. So do these odds indicate they will acquire a top star this offseason?

Next: 2018 NBA Mock Draft: After the lottery

There’s plenty of competition for the Spurs in 2018-19, but do they stand a chance at winning the title?