LOS ANGELES — As NBA free agency unfolds this, oddsmakers at BetOnline.ag have placed the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers at the forefront of two of the summer’s most intriguing storylines.
The Clippers are among the favorites to sign veteran point guard Chris Paul, listed at 5/1 odds behind only the Phoenix Suns (3/1) and Sacramento Kings (4/1). Paul, 39, played six seasons with the Clippers from 2011 to 2017 and could be in line for a reunion as the franchise looks to retool around Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
Meanwhile, the Lakers lead the race to acquire center Deandre Ayton, coming in at 3/1 odds. The 25-year-old former No. 1 overall pick is viewed as a potential frontcourt solution for the Lakers, following a rocky end to his tenure with Portland Trailblazers. Ayton has not lived up to expectations since helping lead the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals, though he remains one of the most talented big men available this offseason.
Other notable odds include the Golden State Warriors (4/1) and Milwaukee Bucks (6/1) as potential suitors for Ayton, while the Lakers are also listed as a 10/1 longshot for Paul.
The odds come amid a quiet market with few teams possessing cap space, meaning sign-and-trade deals could become a key mechanism in player movement. Paul, a future Hall of Famer, and Ayton, a high-upside reclamation project, are among the top names generating buzz as the “silly season” begins.