Luka to Lakers Trade Rocks NBA Odds, Predictions

It was quite possibly one of the most ill-advised trades in NBA history, one that could haunt the Dallas franchise for years to come, and it had a big impact on NBA Championship odds, which saw the Lakers firm considerably.

NBA Championship Odds Update

Lakers +1600

Prior to the trade, the Lakers were trading at +4000 to win the league title in 2024-25. There wasn’t much confidence among bettors for the Lakers despite the presence of LeBron James and perennial All-Star Davis. However, with Davis on his way out and Doncic arriving, there is renewed confidence in Los Angeles.

Doncic brings a different dynamic to the Los Angeles Lakers, and although we’re not sure how he’ll fit with James, his scoring ability is much needed for a team that can struggle to shoot solid numbers from behind the 3-point line.

Who in their right mind watches Luka Doncic do this and then trades him less than a year later?pic.twitter.com/zk5Dkc5MLC

— Michael Bier (@MichaelJBier) February 2, 2025

According to Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, defense wins championships. Without Doncic, who has been sidelined for weeks with a calf injury per NBA news, the Mavericks allowed 91 first-half points against the Cavaliers in their first game since the trade. So while the adage might be true, losing Doncic takes away the heart from the franchise.

Firming into +1600, the Lakers are now considered title contenders. It gives Doncic a chance to win an NBA championship, which he likely didn’t have a chance at winning in Dallas. We expect more money to come for the Lakers over the coming weeks, especially when Doncic makes his team debut.

Odds for Doncic’s field goal percentage are available for his first game as a Laker. The current line with NBA odds is 46.2%, and most of the early money has come for the under at -130. However, we think he’ll make an early impression, so include the over in your selections.

Mavericks +3000

Since the trade, there has been no betting support for the Mavericks, who went from +2500 to +3000 odds to win the NBA title. The betting public believes Doncic has more of an impact on the Mavericks’ chances to win than Davis will, and they’re likely right.

Doncic led the Mavericks to an improbable run to the NBA Finals last season, where the team lost in five games to the Boston Celtics. Back in October, Dallas was among the favorites to win the Western Conference at +500 in NBA futures odds. The Mavs are now +1400 to win the West.

A potential reason for trading away Doncic was because of his fitness levels. He reported weighs as much as 270 pounds. However, Davis isn’t exactly healthy all the time, he’s six years older and he’s injury-prone, which makes the trade even more of a head-scratcher.

Davis will help shore up the Mavs’ defense, but at what cost? They won’t have a player they can rely on to make big buckets down the stretch, and although Davis is a quality player, he’s more of a post player who works his way to a good total. Doncic could put the team on his back and carry them to victory – as he showed in the postseason a year ago.

It will be hard to include the Mavericks in NBA picks for the foreseeable future. Klay Thompson is playing poorly on offense, so they’re not getting much scoring from him. They also traded away Jalen Brunson a few seasons ago, so clearly offense is being put on the back burner in Dallas.

It’s backward thinking and it comes as no surprise to now see the Celtics and Thunder dominate the market. The Celtics are +230 and Thunder +240, respectively, at BetUS sportsbook, and with both teams not trading away their best players, they should be tough to beat during the NBA playoffs.

Questions Of The Day

Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets