Odds Are Against Lakers Winning A Title During LeBron James' Contract

The Golden State Warriors are the heavy favorites to win the 2019 championship after adding a fifth All-Star to an already-stacked roster, putting LeBron James’ historic NBA Finals streak in jeopardy. But the odds aren’t against the Los Angeles Lakers and their newest superstar for only next year.

James’ contract with L.A. is guaranteed for three years with a player option in the fourth year. The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook is offering betting odds for the Lakers’ title chances by the 2021-2022 NBA Finals, and the team is an underdog to win even one championship by then.

Los Angeles has 5/1 odds to win the 2019 NBA Finals at the sportsbook. The Boston Celtics are just ahead of the Lakers with 9/2 odds. Golden State is the odds-on favorite at 4/7.

As long as the Warriors are able to keep their core of superstars intact, it will be difficult for James to get back to the Finals, let alone win a championship. The team has won three of the last four titles, barely losing to James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals.

Perhaps the balance of power will shift next season or in 2020. Both Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson are set to become free agents in the summer of 2019, and Draymond Green’s contract expires the following year. It’s hard to believe that the organization will be able to pay all four superstars.

The Warriors don’t need four All-Stars to win a title. They won the 2015 championship without Durant and won a record-setting 73 games the next season when the forward was still with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Boston could be good for years to come, especially if they are able to re-sign Kyrie Irving beyond next season. The Celtics have been to two straight Eastern Conference Finals. Gordon Hayward will play his first full season with the team in 2018-2019, and Jayson Tatum is a budding superstar.

Los Angeles also has the Houston Rockets, who led the NBA with 65 wins last season, to compete with. The Philadelphia 76ers could be contenders for the next few years with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons still approaching their primes.

The future of the Lakers is very much in the air. They will certainly be in the mix over the next few years with James on the team. L.A. will likely need to add at least one more piece to be considered a true contender.

That piece could come in the form of Kawhi Leonard this offseason. Los Angeles might wait until next year to sign Leonard as a free agent. Other stars like Thompson, Jimmy Butler and Kemba Walker will also be available in 2019. The Lakers will have the necessary cap space to add one of them.

James faces a new challenge by playing in the West. Even if he remains the league's top star for the next few years, his path to the Finals should be much more difficult than it was during his time with the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers.

James won his first championship in 2012. He won rings again in 2013 and 2016.