Cavaliers Betting Favorites To Emerge From East Next Season

It doesn’t really count for anything but gamblers, but if you’re a betting individual, you may want to put your money on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

At least, that’s the word from betting outlet Bovada, which listed the Cavs as the early favorites to win the Eastern Conference next season. Bovada has the Cavs’ odds at +250, followed by the New York Knicks (+275), Boston Celtics (+600), Orlando Magic (+600), and reigning East champion Indiana Pacers (+1100).

Indiana and Boston are expected to be without their stars for most, if not all, after some incredibly unfortunate Achilles injuries to Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and Celtics wing Jayson Tatum.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers could be without star point guard Darius Garland (toe surgery) for perhaps the first month or so. But given that they finished 64-18 under first-year coach Kenny Atkinson and very well could run it back, or mostly back … well, you have to at least consider them among the East favorites. Right? We sure think so and so does Bovada.

For the record, the Cavaliers are reportedly exploring trades involving wing Isaac Okoro, forward Dean Wade and their two picks in this week’s NBA Draft (Nos. 49 and 58).