- NBA free agency kicks off on Sunday, June 1st at 6:00 p.m. ET
- Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving are among the biggest names available
- See which teams are favored to land each marquee player and which sportsbooks have the best odds
The rich are about to get a whole lot richer.
The NBA’s annual free agent frenzy officially begins at 6:00 pm ET on Sunday, June 30th and teams are preparing to go through money faster than a sailor on shore leave.
The league’s general managers collectively spent more than $1.5 billion within the first 24 hours of free agency in 2018 and that number should be even higher this year as perennial All-Stars like Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, and Kemba Walker are all in line for hefty raises. Even scrubs like Thomas Bryant and JaMychal Green could become wealthy beyond their wildest dreams as top heavy teams like the Lakers and Rockets desperately try to fill out their precariously thin rosters.
We’ve included the latest odds from our top sportsbooks below so you can see where each free agent is likely to land.
Favorites to Sign 2019 NBA Free Agents
| Free Agent | Favorite to Sign | 2nd-Favorite to Sign | 3rd-Favorite to Sign | Where to Bet It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawhi Leonard | Raptors (-175) | Clippers (+190) | Lakers (+300) | Odds at Bovada |
| Kevin Durant | Knicks (-300) | Nets (+100) | Warriors (+235) | Odds at Bovada |
| Kyrie Irving | Nets (-550) | Lakers (+250) | Knicks (+1100) | Odds at Bovada |
| Jimmy Butler | 76ers (+150) | Nets (+800) | Knicks (+900) | Odds at BetOnline |
*Odds taken 06/28/19
Is Leonard Leaning Towards Toronto?
The North clearly wants Kawhi, but does Kawhi want the North? The four-time All-Star never chose to play in Toronto (he was dealt by the Spurs), and has long been linked to southern California, where he was born and raised. Leonard’s roots run deep, and the Lakers and Clippers both possess the salary space and warmer climes to lure him away.
If Kawhi Leonard chooses the Lakers, he will be known as the “Thanos of the NBA.” — @ColinCowherd
Destroyed:
– The Spurs Dynasty
– The Heat Dynasty
– The Warriors Dynasty
– The Raptors’ future
– The Clippers’ soul pic.twitter.com/GHzMPQjBjY— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 28, 2019
Is KD Changing Zip Codes?
The Warriors may have been the ones who come up short in Game 5 of the NBA Finals when Durant ruptured his Achilles, but it was the Knicks who really lost out. New York had long envisioned a healthy KD leading them to a title in 2020, only to see those dreams cruelly dashed as the 10-time All-Star had to be helped off the floor by his teammates.
When free agency starts the Knicks are expecting to have meetings with Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard before heading to Los Angeles to meet with what are considered second tier free agents. The countdown begins…
— Frank Isola (@TheFrankIsola) June 26, 2019
Durant may still bolt Golden State for Gotham, but New York will have to delay its championship celebration by at least one season as he undergoes a grueling year of rehab.
Is Irving Bolting Boston?
Few players come with more baggage than Kyrie Irving, who appears destined to end up on his third team in four years despite being universally heralded as one of the league’s most gifted young players. The six-time All-Star famously went weeks without speaking to his teammates in Cleveland and consistently threw his fellow Celtics under the bus when the going got tough in Boston. At 27, Irving is old enough to know better, but he continues to wear out his welcome with his grating selfishness and immaturity.
The Nets are having an internal debate if they should still pursue Kyrie Irving if they are unable to sign Kevin Durant, per @nypost.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 20, 2019
Despite his many shortcomings, Irving is still a dynamic, lights-out scorer who can drop 30 points in his sleep. Those kinds of players will always have a job in the NBA, which is why the Nets, Knicks, and Lakers are all expected to line up for Irving’s services once the clock strikes six on Sunday night.
Rockets Are Clearing the Deck for Butler
It’s fun to imagine just how dominant the Rockets could be if James Harden was even half as good at playing defense as Daryl Morey is at making deals. The Rockets GM has reportedly been hard at work trying to clear space for Jimmy Butler, whom he foresees as the final component of a “Big Three” featuring Harden and Chris Paul.
The Rockets believe they have a trade partner for Clint Capela but do not intend to deal Capela unless they are sure they can acquire marquee Sixers free agent Jimmy Butler, according to a source briefed on Houston’s thinking
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 28, 2019
Clint Capela, Eric Gordon, and PJ Tucker are all available to teams willing to absorb their salary, and Morey may even be willing to toss in his first born to get a deal done.
The post Based on Betting Odds, Here’s Where the Top 2019 NBA Free Agents Will Sign appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.
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