The NBA offseason is heating up, with free agency opening at 6 p.m. Sunday. Some sportsbooks are offering odds in some states on where star players might suit up next season. For instance, at DraftKings you might see a “Player Next Team” tab.
Below, we break down some of the biggest names in the league who might switch teams during free agency and look at how the NBA odds are shaping up.
These markets are available at DraftKings Sportsbook in the following states: West Virginia, Indiana, New Hampshire, Colorado, Michigan, Illinois, Oregon, Wyoming, Arizona, Louisiana, Kansas, Maryland, Maine, and North Carolina, as well as Ontario, Canada.
The specific language states, “Next regular season minute played to be played for which NBA team?” So any trade or player movement prior to the season could result in a successful bet. Or a bet on a player to stay with his current team will be successful if the team doesn’t trade him until after the season begins.
Paul George’s next team odds
- Los Angeles Clippers -200
- Philadelphia 76ers +400
- Golden State Warriors +400
- Oklahoma City Thunder +800
- Houston Rockets +1000
- Orlando Magic +1200
- Los Angeles Lakers +2000
- Miami Heat +2500
- New York Knicks +2500
- Cleveland Cavaliers +2500
George could sign an extension with the Los Angeles Clippers, decline his player option and enter free agency, or opt in for nearly $50 million and request a trade. The Clippers are under some pressure to field a contender with their new stadium opening next season in Inglewood. The Clips are the favorites to retain George’s services with -200 odds at DraftKings.
There are plenty of suitors angling to trade or sign George, with Joel Embiid notably hinting at his desire to get the all-star in a Sixers uniform during the NBA Finals pregame show. The Philadelphia 76ers are getting +400 odds to acquire George, and they have enough cap space to make a deal work.
The Golden State Warriors have gained steam on the odds board, with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reporting that Golden State would offer him a four-year max contract. That report shifted his odds from +3000 to +600, and he’s now sitting at +400 at DraftKings to join the Warriors, with the largest percentage of handle and bets coming in on that scenario and the 76ers closely behind.
A reunion with the Oklahoma City Thunder (+800) hasn’t been ruled out. The Thunder traded George to the Clippers for Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and several draft picks, and they could grab the veteran back without paying nearly as much.
The Houston Rockets have odds of +1000 to acquire George. Windhorst reported that the Rockets are also inquiring with the Phoenix Suns about Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, so it follows that Houston could try to acquire a different star wing from the Clippers.
Klay Thompson’s next team odds
- Orlando Magic +140
- Dallas Mavericks +250
- Golden State Warriors +400
- Los Angeles Lakers +600
- Philadelphia 76ers +1200
- Oklahoma City Thunder +1200
- Sacramento Kings +2000
- San Antonio Spurs +2000
- Miami Heat +2500
- New York Knicks +3000
A vital piece of the Warriors’ four championships over the past decade, Klay Thompson now appears increasingly likely to part ways with the franchise. Golden State was the favorite to re-sign Thompson with -150 odds in late May, but it now has odds of +400, which is behind the Orlando Magic and Dallas Mavericks to sign the veteran sharpshooter. Warriors executives and head coach Steve Kerr have been clear that they want to bring Thompson back, but changing salary cap rules might prevent them from offering as much as some suitors.
Thompson seems set on hitting the open market, and the Magic are the team closely linked to him. The Magic have shifted from +300 to +110 and back to +150 during June, with Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reporting that there is mutual interest between Orlando and Thompson. DraftKings has taken more handle (36%) on Thompson joining the Magic but slightly more tickets (19%) on him staying with the Warriors.
The Mavericks have emerged as a late contender for Thompson’s services, shifting from +1600 to +200 over the past month. While the Mavericks might be interested, there is not much firm reporting to justify this odds shift other than an uncredited account posting on X that Thompson had signed with the Mavs nine days before free agency even opened. Dallas might have to trade a piece to make room for Thompson’s salary.
The Los Angeles Lakers still hold an edge over other potential suitors for Thompson since his dad, Mychal, played for the franchise, and Klay grew up in the area. The Lakers were also sitting at +1600 in May but have shifted to +700 to acquire Thompson after news surfaced that he is more likely than not to test free agency.
Trae Young’s next team odds
- Atlanta Hawks -185
- San Antonio Spurs +320
- Los Angeles Lakers +500
- Miami Heat +1100
- Orlando Magic +1700
- Brooklyn Nets +1800
- New Orleans Pelicans +2200
- Houston Rockets +4000
- Cleveland Cavaliers +4000
- Detroit Pistons +4000
Reports indicate that the Atlanta Hawks may trade either Dejounte Murray or Trae Young, but they reportedly plan to keep one of their lead guards. Young has moved to -185 to suit up for the Hawks at the start of next season, with Murray linked to several suitors in trade rumors. The Hawks selected French swingman Zaccharie Risacher first overall and may look to keep building around Young with size and playmaking.
If the Hawks trade Young, oddsmakers at DraftKings like the San Antonio Spurs (+320) as the top destination. San Antonio could look to pair Victor Wembanyama with an elite passer like Young. Reports have also linked the Spurs to Murray, whom they traded to Atlanta in 2023 for three first-round picks and a swap.
The Lakers are next up, with +500 odds to acquire Young at DraftKings. D’Angelo Russell appears likely to decline his $18.6 million player option and enter free agency, and if that happens, the Lakers would have a vacancy at point guard.
While the Hawks account for 48% of the handle on Young’s next team, the New Orleans Pelicans (+2200) account for 30% of the tickets and 29% of the handle, with bettors potentially projecting a trade involving Young and Brandon Ingram.
Brandon Ingram’s next team odds
- New Orleans Pelicans -110
- Philadelphia 76ers +450
- Houston Rockets +600
- Orlando Magic +700
- Atlanta Hawks +850
- Detroit Pistons +950
- Cleveland Cavaliers +1100
- San Antonio Spurs +1100
- Oklahoma City Thunder +1400
- Sacramento Kings +3000
While his contract goes through this upcoming season, Ingram is eligible for a four-year extension worth up to $208 million, and the Pelicans might get ahead of that move by trading him. The Pelicans are sitting at odds of -110 to start the season with Ingram on their roster. Oddsmakers might still have the Pels as favorites because they could also trade Ingram during the season.
Kelly Iko has reported that the 76ers have inquired about trading for Ingram, as observers expect them to try to move Tobias Harris for an upgrade on the wing. Ingram might be the backup plan for the 76ers if they can’t land Paul George. Oddsmakers at DraftKings have the 76ers at +450 to acquire the Pelicans forward. The plurality of the handle (29%) and tickets (19%) are on Ingram joining the Sixers, followed by the Hawks (+850) and Kings (+3000), with just 5% of the handle so far on Ingram sticking with the Pelicans.
LeBron James’ next team odds
The Lakers are heavily favored to retain James’ services next year, and those odds have hardly shifted since he was at -500 to suit up for the Lakers since early May. His odds to go to the Cavs became a bit shorter, moving from +1200 to +800 in late June after he attended a playoff game in Cleveland.
When the Lakers selected his son, Bronny, 55th overall in the draft, DraftKings removed odds on LeBron’s next team, perhaps indicating the sportsbook expects him to stay with the Lakers.
