Caesars sportsbook also took a "big bet" on the Lakers for next year, according to Berg [Caesars sportsbook senior oddsmaker], who says the real challenge for bookmakers begins now. "We're playing this game where hopefully we're on top of the information before everyone else is," Berg said.
No one should regret not making a strong play for Kawhi Leonard last summer more than the Celtics, argues Zach Lowe of ESPN. Boston had plenty of assets to offer when the Spurs put Leonard on the market, but wasn’t willing to part with Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown unless there were more assurances about Leonard’s health and willingness to re-sign with the organization. Lowe notes that the Celtics thought they already had a championship team in place and that adding another maximum-salary player to go with Irving, Gordon Hayward and Al Horford wouldn’t have been sustainable for long.