As this season’s NBA Finals continue to wind down, the Suns and Bucks will play game six tonight, speculation on any number of topics for next season run wild.

In the online sports betting industry, if you can speculate about something taking place, you can usually bet on it as well. That is the case with Damian Lillard as far as his future playing days in the NBA.

NBA Bookies Reviews

After playing for the Portland Trail Blazers this past season, trade rumors are swirling all around the veteran guard. He has not officially requested a trade from his current team but that does not mean it will not happen sometime during the offseason.

Given that odds have been posted for nine different teams as a potential landing spot for Lillard, where there is some smoke there is probably some fire as well. Here is a quick look at the best value in the posted odds.

Damian Lillard New Team Contenders

The team at the top of the list is the New York Knicks at +160 betting odds. However, my top play for the “Best Bets” category would be the Philadelphia 76ers at +225 odds.

The 76ers were the No. 1 seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, so bowing out of the playoffs earlier than the conference finals has to be considered a disappointment.

Ben Simmons has caught most of the wrath for Philly fizzling out in the conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks. He has also been the subject of multiple trade rumors since that series came to an end.

If Philadelphia is serious about contending for a world title next season, it is going to have to shake things up. Putting a good deal of the blame on Simmons is probably not that fair. However, this city is not known for its forgiving nature. When the fans in Philly turn on you, they rarely turn back.

Lillard would be the big splash that would get the city back behind the team for the 2022 run towards a NBA title. Whether or not Lillard is the answer to this team’s obvious short-comings remains to be seen. However, the 76ers could definitely use some more elite NBA star power to make the most of a franchise player such as Joel Embiid.

Basketball Odds

Damian Lillard New Team Rumors

Lillard has been adamant about not asking Portland for a trade. Yet, his drive to win a championship is just as strong as his intentions of finishing his NBA career with the Trail Blazers.

You could throw the Los Angeles Lakers in the mix at +750 betting odds. Mainly because it is the Lakers as the highest profile team in the league. It would not be all that hard to see LeBron James lobby on his behalf if Lillard was interested in playing for this team.

Right now, his supermax contract extension runs through the 2024/2025 NBA season. Portland did take a step backwards this past season after slipping to sixth place in the final Western Conference standings.

If the Trail Blazers do not go out and raise the overall talent level of this team, Lillard might look to jump ship and land with a top contender.

My gut feeling is that he remains in Portland for next season but there is still some betting value with Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Lakers for this particular betting option.

Basketball Picks

Damian Lillard Next Team Betting Odds

New York +160

Philadelphia +225

Golden State +400

Miami +700

Los Angeles Clippers +750

Los Angeles Lakers +750

Dallas +900

Boston +1200

Toronto +1200

Get winning sports picks from the world’s best handicappers.