The NBA preseason tips off Friday night, but that's not the only thing you can bet on. Perhaps due to this recent Jalen Rose prediction, the sportsbook recently posted odds on Anthony Davis' team for the 2019-20 season.
Shield your eyes Pelicans fans because you do not have the best odds. Hell, not even the second- best odds.
Where will Anthony Davis Play Game 1 of the 2019-20 NBA Season?
- Los Angeles Lakers: -190
- Boston Celtics: +250
- New Orleans Pelicans: +300
- Golden State Warriors: +750
With The Brow under contract through the '20-21 season, the three teams listed other than the Pelicans would need to make a trade for the superstar big man at some point during this season or next summer.
You can also bet on whether he'll be traded before this season's trade deadline:
- Yes: +125
- No: -165
With the Pelicans listed at +300 and "Yes" for this prop listed at +125, it appears that the oddsmakers believe a trade next offseason is the most likely outcome.
If history serves as any indication, I'm sure that LeBron James will want another star player by his side in L.A. at some point. The Lakers have some talented youngsters like Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball who could eventually flourish into legitimate stars, but they could also be used as trade chips to land a legit superstar like Davis.
Boston is in a similar boat. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown could very well turn into franchise players, but with Kyrie Irving's status for next season up in the air, "Trader" Danny Ainge could get aggressive and shove his chips to the center of the table.
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Meanwhile, the Warriors are … the Warriors. They seem to find a way to land whichever superstar they desire so you can't put anything past them. Do they need Anthony Davis? No. No they don't. But these superteams seem to try and get more superteam-y every year.
Would the Pelicans trade him? As my colleague Bryan Mears says, they don't have much incentive to. One reason why a team might trade a star is because it knows he won't stay in town once free agency comes. However, Davis will be eligible for a super-max contract once his deal expires, which is something that only the Pelicans can offer him.
He would be walking away from more than $80 million if he left in free agency and signed a max deal with another team. With that said, this scenario is unlikely.
The only other real reason would be if New Orleans gets swept away with an offer that's just so good that it can't resist. Obviously, these other squads all have some terrific trade assets, but would they be able to woo the Pelicans into dealing their golden boy?
With all that said, the +300 payout on the Pelicans definitely seems like the most enticing option of the bunch, though you'd be tying up money for more than a year if you bet on it.
