:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63733747/1125828341.jpg.0.jpg)
The 2018-19 season was an encouraging one for the Atlanta Hawks on a number of levels. General manager Travis Schlenk noted publicly that the team outpaced internal expectations on the way to 29 victories and, on the roster side, Trae Young and John Collins exploded to provide a great deal of optimism for the future. To that end, the Hawks received a bit of respect on Saturday and it came from the good folks in Las Vegas.
Jeff Sherman of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook posted opening odds for the 2020 NBA Championship and Atlanta landed at 100-to-1.
2019-20 NBA Championship winner
— Jeff Sherman (@golfodds) May 4, 2019
GS 7/4
Mil 9/2
Bos 7/1
Phi, Hou 10/1
NY, LAC 16/1
Tor, LAL 20/1
Den, OKC 25/1
Bkn 30/1
Utah, Por 40/1
Dal 50/1
SA 60/1
Ind 80/1
Orl, Atl, Chi, Sac 100/1
Det, Char, Mia, Wsh, Cle, Min, Mem, NO, Phx 300/1
It may not seem like much but, just one year ago, the Hawks faced the longest odds in the entire NBA and that certainly isn’t the case this time around. It has to be noted that a lot can (and will) change with the roster between now and October but Westgate lists nine (!) teams with longer odds than Atlanta, outlining some of the positive mojo surrounding the team.
The Hawks probably won’t win the title next season (barring an unforeseen acquisition of Kevin Durant and/or Kawhi Leonard) but, at the very least, the experts in the desert seem to be seeing the bright future that awaits for the franchise.
Stay tuned.