(Newswire.net — June 18, 2019) — The Los Angeles Lakers have finally landed longtime target Anthony Davis. But they aren’t ready to close the books yet and have plans to make another big signing this offseason.
The Toronto Raptors are the freshly crowned NBA champions, having beaten the Golden State Warriors in six games during this month’s finals, finally knocking them off their perch. With both Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson currently injured and likely to miss next season, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has smelled blood and is now desperate to fashion a path to next year’s NBA Finals for the purple and gold.
The Lakers have agreed a trade deal for Anthony which sees Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and three first-round picks go the other way. There is a need to bring in more bodies, considering the players they’ve lost, and there is enough cap space to sign a marquee free agent this summer.
Kemba Walker is rumored to be their top target by certain sources but The Athletic’s Sam Amick and David Aldridge have reported that the Lakers are still hoping they could land Kyrie Irving.
Irving, one of the most talented point guards around, is a free agent this summer, having opted out of his deal with the Boston Celtics. The Celtics could sign the All-Star to a new deal and are still free to negotiate with him, but it’s more likely that he leaves given the way things turned out during the season.
The Brooklyn Nets are believed to be the frontrunner in the race for the guard’s signature, yet the Lakers reckon getting Anthony could be the chip that gets him to consider an offer. Aldridge reports that Irving has wanted to team up with Anthony for months and there is a possibility that he’s convinced to put aside his distaste for playing with LeBron James for the greater good.
Irving revealed having called his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate to apologize to him during the regular season, following some internal conflict with his younger teammates in Boston. Despite the talk of a reunion, which would work out pretty well for the Lakers and cement them as favorites for the title next season, the guard has plans to sign with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation sports agency, which makes the possibility of him signing joining with the Nets even stronger as the rapper was part owner of the team before starting up his agency.
With Leonard also a free agent this year, they’re said to be targeting him too but the Finals MVP is said to have his heart set on either remaining with Toronto or signing with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Lakers are already 5/2 to win the title next year with William Hill and fans looking to get their punts in early could grab some enhanced odds offers on sports betting from Freebets.co.uk. LeBron and Co. are also 29/20 to make it out of the Western Conference and reach the finals with Bet365.
The Warriors, who are very likely to go into next season with Steph Curry and Draymond Green as their superstar names, are 5/1 with Bet365 to make it back to the finals, which would be a sixth straight time. And Betfair has odds of 10/1 on them reclaiming their bragging rights and winning the title.
The Milwaukee Bucks are also tipped to have a big 2019/20 season and Bet365 has 13/2 odds on offer for a championship campaign. The Raptors, meanwhile, are at 11/2 with Betfair while the Houston Rockets are 17/2 with Paddy Power.