Lakers 2024-25 Betting Preview: Prediction, Roster Projection

The Los Angeles Lakers returned to the playoffs after a 47-35 campaign last year, but the Denver Nuggets eliminated them in five games during the opening round.

NBA futures odds are available at the online sportsbook, including Los Angeles Lakers odds for NBA champion, division winner, and player awards.

Lakers Futures Odds

Win Total: 43.5
Pacific Division: +400
Western Conference: +2000
NBA Championship: +4000

There always seems to be a Lakers’ tax in the NBA odds market. The Lakers haven’t finished over their win total since 2017-18, which is the longest such streak in the league.

But the market is down on Los Angeles this season. The under is one of the most-bet win totals this offseason despite the Lakers’ win total being four games below last year’s mark.

The Lakers are also +4000 to win the NBA Finals after being 18/1 or better in each of the six preseasons.

Lakers Offseason Moves

Due to having a full roster, the Lakers had a quiet offseason and appear to be running it back under first-year head coach JJ Redick.

Additions

Departures

The Lakers were in on the Klay Thompson sweepstakes, but were ultimately limited to using the draft for roster improvements. They got a steal when Dalton Knecht fell to them at No. 17 before selecting Bronny James, the son of their best player, in the second round.

LeBron James, who will turn 40 years old in December, signed a two-year, $101,355,998 deal to (likely) end his career in Los Angeles. The Lakers also re-signed Max Christie, who appears to have a more significant role after falling out of the rotation last season under coach Darvin Ham.

Taurean Prince averaged 27 minutes per contest last year and left Los Angeles to join the Milwaukee Bucks (where Ham is now an assistant) in the offseason.

Lakers 2024 Betting Prediction

Prediction: LeBron James Over 7.9 Assists per Game (-115)

We have honestly reached a buy point on the Lakers, especially with their win total as low as 42.5 in the market. They won 47 games last year.

But I’m not sure I want to bet on health from James and Anthony Davis for the second year in a row. As such, my favorite NBA betting prediction is in the season-long player prop market.

James averaged 8.3 assists per game for the Lakers last season. It marked the third time in his six seasons in Los Angeles that he has averaged at least 8.3 dimes per contest.

There is important context to the three seasons that James didn’t clear this mark with the Lakers. The first season was 2020-21, when he played 45 games in a campaign that started too soon after the Lakers’ title. The other two campaigns were when Russell Westbrook was on the team.

Hashtag Basketball projects James to average 8.2 assists per game this year.

The Lakers became a sneaky elite offense last year once they committed to a starting lineup of D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, James, and Davis. Redick has already said that will be his lineup, and there is a chance that he creates better looks in his first year at the helm.

There are multiple paths to James clearing this assist average. It’s simply too low.

2024-25 NBA Team Previews & Predictions