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The NBA season isn’t even 24 hours old as LeBron James celebrates his first championship after Miami’s stunningly easy 4-1 series win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. And it could be the first of many for LeBron as the Heat already have been installed as 11/4 favorites on Bovada’s NBA futures odds to win the NBA title again in 2013.

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The Heat, who will hold their victory parade Monday in Miami, likely will remain NBA favorites as long as the Big 3 of LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh remains healthy – although Wade has started to show some signs of slowing down a bit as the elder statesman of that group. Most of the core players will be back and Miami won’t be able to make any big free-agent splashes because the Big 3 essentially eat the entire salary cap. The Heat could use an additional big man, and there are reports that someone like Steve Nash might be interested in joining the Heat to chase a ring. It’s much easier to repeat in the NBA than in the NFL, MLB or NHL.

Oklahoma City was the -165 series favorite heading into the Finals but couldn’t make the key plays after taking Game 1 and they never really had a chance in Thursday’s Game 5 as the Thunder tried to get the series back to OKC. With Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook locked up long-term and young, OKC should be a perennial contender and it is the 5/1 second-favorite to win it all next year. OKC’s starting five should be back, although the team needs to re-sign Serge Ibaka and James Harden this offseason or they are free agents after next season. Harden’s disappointing Finals might make OKC leery of giving him a big new deal.

The Chicago Bulls, who had the NBA’s best regular-season record for the second year in a row, are next at 5/1. But the Bulls are going to play the majority of next season without superstar point guard Derrick Rose after he tore ligaments in his knee in the Bulls’ opening playoff game. In addition, All-Star Luol Deng is going to likely miss the first few months of the season due to wrist surgery.

Rounding out the favorites at 10/1 are the L.A. Lakers and San Antonio Spurs. Both clubs lost to the Thunder in these playoff and the window might be shut on both. Los Angeles has to decide what to do with Pau Gasol, while it’s not clear how much Tim Duncan has left in the tank for San Antonio.

The longest shots on the board to win the 2013 NBA Finals are 200/1 are the Charlotte Bobcats and Detroit Pistons.

John Calipari keeps bringing in kids, and keeps churning out pros. The Kentucky head coach saw two of his one-year wonders beat the NBA odds by going No. 1 and 2 respectively in the 2012 NBA Draft.
The Kentucky Wildcats became the first NCAA basketball program to ever produce the No. 1 and 2 picks, when the New Orleans Hornets selected Anthony Davis at No. 1 and the Charlotte Bobcats nabbed Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at No. 2. You think Calipari's crying about it? Naw, this just gives him more ammo when recruiting new blue chip recruits to his program.

"Somebody told me they are going to call it the Blue Room instead of the Green Room," a beaming Calipari told the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Calipari will always be accused of cheating his way to the top, but even his biggest haters have to admit that he doesn't even need to bend NCAA rules anymore, the program is running downhill.
Davis a 6-10 monster with Tim Duncan-like skill set, was a lock to go No. 1 overall (maybe now somebody will get him to shave that unibrow). The surprises came after the first pick. Everyone thought Michael Jordan and his Bobcats were taking Bradley Beal No. 2 overall, but MJ instead went for Kidd-Gilchrist, who at least has the athletecism to bring some excitement to Charlotte.
The Washington Wizards went next and selected Beal, who should make for a mean back-court teamate for John Wall as he's considered the best shooter in the draft.
Check below for the rest of the first round. Oh, and those wondering the NCAA Odds to win the 2012-2013 NCAA Championship after Calipari lost another pool of talent? Kentucky is still favored to win it all at 15/2.

1. Hornets, Anthony Davis, PF
2. Bobcats, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF
3. Wizards, Bradley Beal, SG
4. Cavaliers, Dion Waiters, SG
5. Kings, Thomas Robinson, PF
6. Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard, PG
7. Warriors, Harrison Barnes, SF
8. Raptors, Terrence Ross, SG
9. Pistons, Andre Drummond, C
10. Hornets ,Austin Rivers, SG
11. Trail Blazers, Meyers Leonard, C
12. Rockets, Jeremy Lamb, SG
13. Suns, Kendall Marshall, PG
14. Bucks, John Henson, PF
15. 76ers, Maurice Harkless, SF
16. Rockets, Royce White, SF
17. Mavericks, Tyler Zeller, C
18. Rockets, Terrence Jones, PF
19. Magic, Andrew Nicholson, PF
20. Nuggets, Evan Fournier, SG
21. Celtics, Jared Sullinger, PF
22. Celtics, Fab Melo, C
23. Hawks, John Jenkins, SG
24. Cavaliers, Jared Cunningham, SG
25. Grizzlies, Tony Wroten Jr., PG
26. Pacers, Miles Plumlee, PF
27. Heat, Arnett Moultrie, PF
28. Thunder, Perry Jones, PF
29. Bulls, Marquis Teague, PG
30. Warriors, Festus Ezeli, C

Orlando Magic superstar center Dwight Howard has officially asked his club to trade him to the Brooklyn Nets, but it now appears that Brooklyn won’t have the cap room or assets for Howard after reportedly acquiring All-Star guard Joe Johnson from the Atlanta Hawks.

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Frankly, Brooklyn only sent a bunch of junk to Atlanta for Johnson: The Nets will send DeShawn Stevenson and the expiring contracts of Jordan Williams, Johan Petro, Jordan Farmar and Anthony Morrow. Stevenson, a free agent, would go to Atlanta via a sign-and-trade deal, and the Hawks would also receive a first-round pick (via Houston) that is lottery-protected in 2013. The trade can't be finalized until July 11, when the free-agent moratorium ends.

It’s just a no-brainer deal for New Jersey as it managed to keep rising guard MarShon Brooks out of the trade as well as retain its own first-round pick in 2013. The Nets are no doubt hoping that landing Johnson will convince All-Star point guard Deron Williams to re-sign. Williams, an unrestricted free agent, will either do so or go to Dallas, where he is from. ESPN-com reported Sunday that finalizing any deal for Johnson upon Williams telling the Nets that he plans to re-sign with them July 11. Williams apparently will decide by Wednesday.

As for Atlanta, it gets out of the remaining four years and $89 million left on Johnson’s contract. He’s a good player, averaging 18.8 points a season ago, but isn’t a franchise player (like Howard) and that contract is absurd. New GM Danny Ferry can now start to rebuild the Hawks after shedding the richest contract in the entire NBA, worth $126 million when Johnson signed it in the summer of 2010.

Ferry also pulled off another trade Monday, sending the big contract of Marvin Williams to the Utah Jazz for point guard Devin Harris. Utah had acquired Harris in a package from the Nets for Williams in the 2010-11 season. The Hawks could now be in position to clear roughly $20 million in salary-cap space after the 2012-13 season. Chris Paul and Howard are among the star players eligible to become free agents next summer – Howard is from Atlanta.

Former Kentucky star Anthony Davis was considered the only franchise player in this year’s NBA draft and the now New Orleans Hornets big man is the overwhelming 6/5 favorite on Bovada’s NBA player props to be named the 2012-13 NBA Rookie of the Year.

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A center hasn’t won the award since Emeka Okafor with Charlotte in the 2004-05 season – ironically the Hornets recently traded away Okafor to Washington to essentially open up the starting center job for Davis. New Orleans has had one Rookie of the Year winner in its history: point guard Chris Paul in 2005-06. Paul was traded before last season to the L.A. Clippers, which in essence made this year’s Hornets team lousy enough to be in a position to win the draft lottery.

Davis will begin his pro career in the same city where he ended it with a national title and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. As a freshman, Davis was also named the National Player of the Year at Kentucky. He averaged 14.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.7 blocks for UK. Davis’ over/under for points in his rookie season at Bovada is 11.5.

The Wildcats became the first school to have the top two picks and Davis’ ex-teammate Michael Kidd-Gilchrist of the Bobcats is the second-favorite to be the top rookie next year at 7/1. He also should start right away on a team that had the worst winning percentage in NBA history last season.

Washington chose Florida guard Bradley Beal at No. 3 overall and Beal is the 19/2 third-favorite to be the league’s top rookie along with former North Carolina star Harrison Barnes, who was chosen No. 7 by Golden State, and former Kansas star Thomas Robinson, who went No. 5 to Sacramento.

One rookie expected to make a big impact this season was actually chosen last year: Lithuanian big man Jonas Valanciunas was chosen No. 5 in 2011 by the Toronto Raptors but stayed overseas. He will play in the NBA this year and also is expected to play for his country in the upcoming London Olympics. Some speculate that Valanciunas would have gone No. 2 behind Davis in this year’s draft had he been eligible.

The Brooklyn Nets’ offseason plan appears to be working perfectly so far as after acquiring All-Star shooting guard Joe Johnson from Atlanta for essentially a pile of garbage on Monday, the Nets were informed by All-Star point guard Deron Williams on Tuesday that he would re-sign with Brooklyn instead of going to play in his hometown of Dallas.

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Just after 7 p.m. ET Tuesday, Williams tweeted "Made a very difficult decision today ..." along with a link to a photo of the Nets' logo. He will get a five-year contract worth around the $100 million maximum to form a tremendous backcourt with Johnson – one that is worth $190 million. The Mavs could only offer four years, $75 million based on the rules outline in the collective bargaining agreement.

The Nets obviously aren’t done yet – they are trying desperately to work a trade with the Orlando Magic for Dwight Howard, who has told the Magic he wants a trade and that the only place he would sign a long-term deal is in Brooklyn. Howard is hoping that threat scares off other suitors who would have more to offer the Magic, like the Lakers potentially offering young center Andrew Bynum. The Nets would likely send some sort of package of Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks and multiple future first-round picks to Orlando (which the Magic don't want). Lopez and Humphries, who are both free agents, would go to Orlando in sign-and-trade deals. Brooklyn is looking for a third team to help facilitate a potential trade for Howard.

Last year was Williams' first full season with the Nets after being traded by the Utah Jazz at the 2011 trade deadline. Williams averaged 21.0 points, 8.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 26.3 minutes per game, making his third consecutive All-Star game. The Nets will play the 2012-13 season at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn after moving from New Jersey. Adding Howard could make them the second-best team in the East behind NBA champion Miami.

When the 2012-13 NBA futures odds were posted at Bovada right after the NBA Finals, Brooklyn was 100/1. Those odds will come down as it is and it could be a dramatic shift depending on Howard.

As the Brooklyn Nets wrap up their monster moves, other squads are stacking up their team that could shift NBA futures.
Rumors from the mothership persist that free agent guard Jason Terry, formerly of the Dallas Mavericks, is close to signing with the Boston Celics, giving them a high-energy back up to Boston's best player Rajon Rondo.

Terry is closing in on a three-year contract with Boston sources close to the situation confirmed Tuesday. Terry's offer from the Celtics is believed to be for the full mid-level exception of $5 million annually and the cash-strapped Mavs don't plan to match the offer. That appears to have gotten the Mavericks in the market for a new point guard, as rumors persist that their priorities are now shifting to 39-year-old and former Mav Steve Nash and one-time Mavs Summer League hand Jeremy Lin, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein.

The Los Angeles Lakers have also taken an interest in Nash, according to an NBA.com report.

Jason Kidd, former Maverick who is now a free agent has narrowed down his choices to the Mavs or New York Knicks, the latter of which may need a guard if they lose Lin.

Dallas is also undecided regarding Houston Rockets free agent Goran Dragic, who visited the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday and could command a starting salary of $10 million, according to sources.

It all started in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona with the dream team that included Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird. They swept to the gold medal in a series of blowouts.

Since then, National Basketball Association players have dominated basketball competition in the Olympics. Now it appears NBA Commissioner David Stern is open to a change that would allow top college basketball players to compete for their country once again in the Olympics.

Shortly before the tipoff of the NBA Finals he was reported to say, "I think we (the NBA) got a lot out of the Olympics. ... But I think it's appropriate to step back and take stock of where we are going."

Read More: dream team Olympics NBA millionaires - chicagotribune-com

NBA Rumors: The Los Angeles Lakers would love to get their hands on superstar Dwight Howard, and as it turns out, the feeling is mutual.

Hoopsworld's Alex Kennedy confirms that D12 would be willing to wear Purple and Gold for the long haul: That's music to most Lakers fans' ears, but it's a sad sign of the times to just about everyone else. Wasn't the long-awaited collective bargaining agreement supposed to restore some semblance of competitive equity to this league?

Aren't fans outside of Miami and Los Angeles due some elite talent of their own?


Read More: NBA Rumors: Dwight Howard Going to Lakers Would Make Him More Hated Than LeBron | Bleacher Report

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman has finally met his estranged father after 42 years of separation, following an exhibition game in the Philippines.

Philander Rodman Jr., who has acknowledged fathering 29 children by 16 mothers, says he was happy and surprised that his son agreed to meet him late Wednesday. He tried to meet the basketball Hall of Famer during another game in Manila in 2006.

"It was great," he said Thursday of the first time he held his son's hands since they last met in December 1969.

"I've been trying to meet him for years. And then last night, boom, I met him. I was really, really happy and very surprised," he told The Associated Press.

Read More: NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman finally meets his father after 42 years - CBS News

Farewell to the Dream Team and all its distant relatives?

Not so fast.

The 2012 London Olympics might not be the end of the road, after all.

"I'd be stunned if there was an immediate change," USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo said.

Once, overhaul seemed imminent. Before the NBA Finals, Commissioner David Stern floated the idea of an under-23 age requirement for international competition, just like they do in soccer. With a new breed of owners barking in his ear, Stern seemed to be conceding a key point to those who are interested in gold, not medals:

The risk of injury and adding unnecessary mileage to the NBA's best assets no longer makes sense.

So what's changed?

Read more: Separating NBA stars and Olympic Games won't be easy

The NBA Summer League wrapped up its last game Sunday. Organizers say it was a record breaking season, or in other words, a slam dunk.

"We've had a very successful league we've had record attendance," says Executive Director Warren LeGarie. "TV has been off the charts. Las Vegas has proven itself to be one of the great hosts in the country."

LeGarie says the NBA Summer League has been coming to Las Vegas since 2004 and it's been a growing success for the organization, the city and the fans.

"I got to meet Kendall Marshall when he came out of the locker room. I said what's up. He said how you doing kid. Then he gave me a shoe," says 14 year old fan Chris Parker. "He autographed it."

The league sold more than 50,000 tickets in 10 games. LeGarie says the figures won't be added up just yet, but the economic impact is exponential considering all the people flying in, staying in hotels, and spending their money.

Read More: NBA Summer League Wraps Up Successful Season - 8 News NOW

The star-studded United States men's basketball team has been pegged as the heavy favorite once again to pick up the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in London.

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The Americans have managed to win the gold medal in basketball at the Summer Olympics in four of the past five games – claiming the victory in each of 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2008, while settling for the bronze medal at the tournament in Athens in 2004.

And that has them as the 1/8 favorites on the basketball odds at Bovada to cruise to the gold medal in London this time around, with Spain next on that list at 13/2 odds, and both Argentina and France pegged at 28/1 odds.

The United States is the heavy chalk despite the fact they won't have all their top players at the Games this summer, with Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Chris Bosh and Blake Griffin all missing the tournament for the Americans with various injuries.

That still leaves the Americans heavy will All-Star players on their roster, including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul, along with top overall draft pick Anthony Davis – he is the replacement for the injured Griffin on the team.

Tyson Chandler, Russell Westbrook, Deron Williams, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Love and James Harden round out the United States' roster for the event.

The Spaniards have Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka and Jose Calderon from the NBA on their Olympic roster, and they'll be looking for revenge after falling to the Americans in the gold medal game in Beijing. Spain's last major international win came at the World Cup in 2006; the United States won that tournament in 2010.

Lithuania and Russia are both at 33/1 odds to win men's basketball gold, with Brazil and Greece at 40/1, Australia at 100/1, Puerto Rico at 150/1, Great Britain at 250/1, China at 400/1, and Tunisia at 1000/1.

The United States' women's basketball team is overshadowed by their counterparts on the country's men's team, but they're actually bigger favorites to win the gold medal at the London Olympics this summer.

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While the men sit at 1/8 odds to win the gold medal in their tournament, the American women are pegged as 1/10 favorites to finish atop the podium in England this time around.

The United States has managed to win the gold medal in women's basketball in each of the last four Olympic Games, and in six of the past seven Olympic tournaments overall – the Unified Team took the gold in 1992, with the Americans settling for a bronze that year.

And the Americans are also the defending winners of the women's FIBA World Championship, which they won in 2010. The United States has won three of the past four women's world championships, with Australia claiming that gold medal in 2006.

Australia is second behind the United States at 7/1 odds to win women's gold in basketball in London, with Russia at 8/1 odds, and no one else closer than 25/1 odds (France).

The United States women are riding a 33-game winning streak at the Olympics, and their roster is made up entirely of WNBA players – including three members of the Minnesota Lynx (Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen, Maya Moore), plus Los Angeles Sparks star forward Candace Parker and WNBA scoring leader Angel McCoughtry of the Atlanta Dream.

The Russians have American-born guard Becky Hammon on their roster for London, while the Australians have Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson plus former Tulsa Shock center Liz Cambage – the second-overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft behind Moore.

The Czech Republic – which lost to the United States in the gold medal game at the 2010 World Championship – is at 66/1 for London, with Turkey at 80/1, Brazil at 150/1, China at 200/1, Canada at 250/1, Croatia at 250/1, Great Britain at 500/1, and Angola at 1000/1.

Find all your betting odds for the 2012 Olympic Games in London at Bovada.

The star-studded United States men's basketball team has been pegged as the heavy favorite once again to pick up the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in London.

Sign up at Bovada NOW and deposit for your 20% Free Bet bonus up to $100.

The Americans have managed to win the gold medal in basketball at the Summer Olympics in four of the past five games – claiming the victory in each of 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2008, while settling for the bronze medal at the tournament in Athens in 2004.

And that has them as the 1/8 favorites on the basketball odds at Bovada to cruise to the gold medal in London this time around, with Spain next on that list at 13/2 odds, and both Argentina and France pegged at 28/1 odds.

The United States is the heavy chalk despite the fact they won't have all their top players at the Games this summer, with Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Chris Bosh and Blake Griffin all missing the tournament for the Americans with various injuries.

That still leaves the Americans heavy will All-Star players on their roster, including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul, along with top overall draft pick Anthony Davis – he is the replacement for the injured Griffin on the team.

Tyson Chandler, Russell Westbrook, Deron Williams, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Love and James Harden round out the United States' roster for the event.

The Spaniards have Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka and Jose Calderon from the NBA on their Olympic roster, and they'll be looking for revenge after falling to the Americans in the gold medal game in Beijing. Spain's last major international win came at the World Cup in 2006; the United States won that tournament in 2010.

Lithuania and Russia are both at 33/1 odds to win men's basketball gold, with Brazil and Greece at 40/1, Australia at 100/1, Puerto Rico at 150/1, Great Britain at 250/1, China at 400/1, and Tunisia at 1000/1.

Find all your betting odds for the 2012 Olympic Games in London at Bovada.

Whatever happens, Team USA will remeain Team USA!

Goodluck to their journey for another gold!😁

Today's NBA is a place where players have a huge say in what team they will be playing for, more so than in any other era in the sport's history.

LeBron James can command hour-long prime-time television extravaganzas simply to announce his decision to head to the Miami Heat.

Players like Carmelo Anthony can hold the entire league hostage for months only to go where we all knew he wanted to go to all along.

And now it's no different. These 10 players are the next 10 to watch as their contracts come closer and closer to expiration and the rumor and gossip surrounding their next moves grow louder and louder.

More: NBA's Top 10 Biggest Ticking Time Bombs | Bleacher Report

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said Thursday that the sooner he knows the age rule for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the better.

NBA Commissioner David Stern, on the other hand, is in no hurry to reach a conclusion on whether this will be the last Olympics for NBA players of all ages or whether men's players 23-and-under will compete in future Olympics.

"Nothing is definitive," Stern told USA TODAY Sports by phone Thursday. "All we're talking about is the issue, having taken stock 20 years after Barcelona. What is the best way to continue the growth of the game on a global basis?"


Read More: Stern in no hurry to know if NBA players stay in Olympics ? USATODAY-com

The current USA team will be without the services of some of the biggest superstars in the NBA right now like Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Derrick Rose, Blake Griffin and Dwight Howard due to various injuries, but they're certain they'll be fine with their current squad.


Read More: Can Today?s NBA Players Compete with the Legends of the Past? - Yahoo! Sports

The most incredible part of the debate about the NBA's desire to run its superstars out of the Olympics is simple: The players can stop it. They're left to believe that they're without voices on the matter, that they're at the mercy of the commissioner, owners, and FIBA, who are conspiring to redirect all those Olympic revenues and control into the rebranded world championships.

While the NBA and FIBA work together to sell TV networks and sponsors on the prospect of a tournament with the best basketball players in the world, the stars can complicate the dynamics of a deal with a unified declaration: Push for an under-23 basketball tournament in the Olympics, and we won't be representing the United States in a new World Cup tournament.


Read More: Will NBA stars fight to preserve Olympic basketball format?

1992 DREAM TEAM won all 14 games they played, with no contest being closer than a 32-point victory.

Let's wait and see if they can match that!