NBA Finals odds: Damian Lillard, Miami Heat rumors make this tasty pick

NBA Finals, the Miami Heat were +2500 to win the championship in 2024, according to BetMGM, and that price has gradually dropped to hardly +1000 in some books, less than in others. 

Why? Well, obviously, Damian Lillard asked for a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers, and according to every reporter other than Adrian Wojnarowski, he seems to be headed for the Miami Heat — because that’s what he wants.

The deal has yet to be executed, but the expectation is that Lillard gets what he desires because, well, it’s what he desires, and the very creative Heat front office will find a third team – potentially fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh if needed – to pull this off. 

They did get Jimmy Butler with no cap space in a sign and trade four years ago and most coveted 2021 free agent Kyle Lowry more recently. 

If you think the Heat do land Lillard, you might as well take these bets now if you haven’t. 

The organization has a high floor — three conference finals and two NBA Finals appearances in four seasons, and the most NBA Playoff wins since adding Butler with 38.

Bam Adebayo is going to be a Defensive Player of the Year favorite next season, and Lillard is the perfect offensive complement to their two stars. 

Betting on the NBA?

We don’t know what their depth we’ll look like yet, but we know the team has the runway of being able to manufacture depth from the scraps of the NBA, as they did with Gabe Vincent, Caleb Martin, Max Strus, and Duncan Robinson, among others, as well as rejuvenated veterans like Kevin Love, who has already re-signed with the team.