Los Angeles Lakers 2023-24 NBA season betting preview: NBA championship odds, win total prediction, playoff odds
After making the Western Conference Finals last season, the Los Angeles Lakers re-tooled their roster this offseason, giving them the depth to compete for a title in the eyes of oddsmakers.
Los Angeles is in the top five in the league in the odds to win the NBA Finals, and with LeBron James and Anthony Davis both healthy entering the season, the sky’s the limit for this Lakers team.
Rob Pelinka added a ton of depth pieces to the roster with the signings of Taurean Prince, Christian Wood, Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes and Cam Reddish, and the team brought back key free agents like Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura.
As long as James is healthy, the Lakers are going to be considered a contender in the West, but should bettors consider wagering on them to win it all?
If you’re looking for more NBA futures, I shared 15 (!!) futures that I’m betting on in the 2023-24 season in the first edition of “Peter’s Points.”
If you’re considering betting on the Lakers, you should do so at FanDuel Sportsbook. New users that sign up with the link below will receive $200 in bonus bets if they deposit and wager $5.
That’s a great deal, and it’s one way to take advantage of the odds for Los Angeles this season!
Here’s a deep dive into the Lakers’ odds in the futures market, and my best bets for them in the 2023-24 campaign.
Los Angeles Lakers NBA championship odds
The Lakers are one of the few teams I bet to win the NBA Finals this season.
The team’s depth is the key here, as the team is no longer top heavy with three stars and a bunch of subpar role players. Health will always be the key with James aging, but Los Angeles showed last season it can compete with just about anyone in the NBA.
Los Angeles Lakers key offseason moves
Players added in free agency
- Jaxson Hayes
- Taurean Prince
- Cam Reddish
- Gabe Vincent
- Christian Wood
Players picked in 2023 NBA Draft
- Jalen Hood-Schifino (17th overall)
- Maxwell Lewis (40th overall)
Players lost this offseason
- Mo Bamba (waived)
- Malik Beasley (signed with Milwaukee Bucks)
- Troy Brown Jr. (signed with Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Wenyen Gabriel (signed with Boston Celtics)
- Shaquille Harrison (waived)
- Dennis Schroder (signed with Toronto Raptors)
- Tristan Thompson (signed with Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Lonnie Walker IV (signed with Brooklyn Nets)
Los Angeles Lakers win total prediction
The Lakers’ are projected to win 46.5 games after winning 43 last season. They’ve only cleared this total once since James joined the franchise, and they happened to win the NBA Finals in that season (the 2019-20 campaign).
With the Lakers’ improved depth, this number isn’t out of the question, but only three teams in the West won 48 or more games last season, so it may be tough with so many teams beating up on each other.
Los Angeles Lakers playoff odds
At -430 to make the playoffs, the Lakers are tied with the Golden State Warriors for a 81.13 percent chance of making the postseason.
It would be shocking for a LeBron James-led team to miss the postseason – if he stays healthy – and the team has much more depth than in previous seasons.
The Lakers should find their way into the playoffs, especially since they rallied late last season to earn the No. 7 seed.
Los Angeles Lakers 2023-24 season outlook
The Lakers can contend for a title this season, and adding players like Wood, Vincent and others is the main reason why.
In previous seasons in the James era, one injury completely derailed the Lakers’ campaigns because of their lack of depth.
While replacing James and Davis with one person is impossible, the team has a rotation that can go at least 10 players deep at any time.
The emergence of Reaves last season and this summer with Team USA is a huge development, as he could become the extra scoring punch the Lakers need without having to dominate the ball like a third superstar would.
After last season’s playoff run, there should be high expectations for this group in the 2023-24 season.
Los Angeles Lakers players to bet in the futures market
Anthony Davis – Defensive Player of the Year
The Defensive Player of the Year has to play 65 games this season, which could be a concern for Davis, but there’s no doubt he can put up the numbers to contend for the award.
I explained why in BetSided’s preview for the DPOY odds in the 2023-24 season:
There have only been two seasons where Anthony Davis has averaged fewer than two blocks per game, but he also hasn’t played more than 65 games in a season since the 2017-18 season.
So, there is a ton of risk in taking him here, but I do believe in his ability to put up the stats – and impact – to be considered for DPOY.
Austin Reaves Most Improved Player
Reaves burst on the scene last season, improving across the board from his rookie season.
He has the narrative behind him as a budding star, and that could make him a sneaky pick in a wide open Most Improved Player race. I broke down why in BetSided’s MIP preview:
Reaves is one of the most intriguing players in this market, as he’s not the top option on the team but has a ton of momentum for Most Improved after how he finished last season and performed in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Remember, these awards have to be voted on and narratives matter whether we like it or not.
In the playoffs last season, Reaves averaged 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game in 16 games while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 44.3 percent from 3-point range.
If he can push 20.0 points per game this season for the Lakers, he may not be an All-Star, but he’s going to be considered for this award after going undrafted just a few offseasons ago.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Find Peter Dewey’s NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp @peter2dewey.
