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The Los Angeles Lakers are the betting favorites to land three-time NBA MVP Nikola Joki\u0107 if he leaves the Denver Nuggets.<\/p>\n
Bovada sports betting odds have the Lakers as +310 favorites to become Jokic\u2019s next team if he and the Nuggets part ways.<\/p>\n
The New York Knicks (+410) have the second-best odds. A distant third are the Boston Celtics (+800). Rounding up the top five betting favorites are the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, tied at +900, the Miami Heat (+1100) and the Los Angeles Clippers (+1200).<\/p>\n
Completing Bovada\u2019s betting list for Joki\u0107\u2019s next possible team are the Dallas Mavericks (+1400), Charlotte Hornets (+4500) and the Utah Jazz (+5000).<\/p>\n
Joki\u0107 was blunt in his assessment of the Nuggets whether they can still contend for the title with their current core.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, we didn\u2019t, so [we] obviously can\u2019t,\u201d Joki\u0107 told reporters after their second-round loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder that went the distance. \u201cIf we could, we would win it. I don\u2019t believe in those \u2018If, if,\u2019 stuff. We had the opportunity; we didn\u2019t win, so I think we can\u2019t.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n According to Bleacher Report\u2019s salary cap expert Eric Pincus, Joki\u0107 is extension-eligible this offseason. He could add three years a three-year max worth $212.2 million if he declines his player option. But Pincus noted that the Nuggets star could also wait until the summer of 2026 for a four-year,$293.4 million max extension.<\/p>\n European Connection<\/strong><\/p>\n Joki\u0107 and the Lakers new star Luka Don\u010di\u0107 are close friends.<\/p>\n The Nuggets star was among the first NBA players who reached out to Don\u010di\u0107 when the Dallas Mavericks shockingly traded him to the Lakers.<\/p>\n \u201cI texted him,\u201d Joki\u0107 told reporters on Feb. 4. \u201cHe felt it, of course. I think he didn\u2019t expect it, of course. I think he just needs to be with family right now, it\u2019s a big move. It\u2019s a business, I don\u2019t know. I think nobody expected it, especially him. I think nobody is safe in the league. But I think he\u2019s going to do a good job. I think he\u2019s the player for a big scene, even though I thought in Dallas he had something special going.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The Lakers need a center. While Joki\u0107 would be a match made in heaven for Don\u010di\u0107, the Lakers do not have the draft capital to compete in a bidding war should the three-time MVP becomes available.<\/p>\n The most they could offer is Austin Reaves, their 2031 first-round pick and five pick swaps, plus salary fillers and nothing else.<\/p>\n Lakers Looking for Center<\/strong><\/p>\n After their lack of size kept the Lakers from advancing past the first round, addressing that will be a top priority for the newly promoted team president Rob Pelinka.<\/p>\n \u201cThis offseason, one of our primary goals is gonna be to add size in our frontcourt at the center position, and that\u2019s just gonna be a part of the equation,\u201d Pelinka said.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe have multiple free agents, too. Obviously, those questions will be answered in July and in August, but we know we have a lot of work to do on the roster. It\u2019ll look different next year for sure.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n So, what exactly is Pelinka looking for in the next Lakers starting center after the team rescinded the Mark Williams trade at the deadline?<\/p>\n \u201cIn terms of center traits, it would be great to have a center that was a vertical threat, a lob threat, and someone who can protect the interior defensively. I think those would be keys,\u201d he said.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBut there are multiple types of centers that could be effective in the league. There are also spread centers that can protect the rim. We\u2019ll look at those as well. So I wouldn\u2019t want to limit the archetype, but we know we need a big man.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Los Angeles Lakers are the betting favorites to land three-time NBA MVP Nikola Joki\u0107 if he leaves the Denver Nuggets. Bovada sports betting odds have the… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":64284,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-64281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\n