Knicks’ 2020 NBA Championship Odds Continue to Get Worse Following AD Trade and KD Injury

• Knicks’ 2020 title odds plunge from +2400 to +3000 in the last four days
• New York’s top roster targets are either injured or already moved
• Is there anything else at play in the Knicks’ drop?

Just a few short months ago, a Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving-Anthony Davis triumvirate was a legitimate Knicks’ dream.

Flash forward to reality, and New York is staring at RJ Barrett and not much else.

Not surprisingly, the Knicks’ once promising 2020 season has cooled, especially on the betting front.

2020 NBA Championship Odds

*Odds taken on June 17, 2019. 

Is the devastation of Kevin Durant’s Achilles injury and Anthony Davis’ move to the Lakers the prime reason we’ve seen their NBA Championship Odds lengthen from +2400 on June 13 to +3000 on June 17?

Or are oddsmakers realizing that these are the same New York Knicks?

Losing Zion Sweepstakes Set Wheels in Motion

The reformed draft lottery happened to come the year that the Knicks finally got their tanking game on point. The odds dented teams who had the worst records, while sending percentage points to the middle of the road lottery squads.

New Orleans Pelicans Win No. 1 Pick In NBA Draft Lottery pic.twitter.com/hW1Q1yN16L

— Global Grind (@GlobalGrind) May 15, 2019

The result? The New Orleans Pelicans maxed out their six-percent odds and vaulted to the first overall pick in the NBA draft, while the Lakers moved from a projected ninth spot all the way to fourth. Meanwhile the Knicks, much to the chagrin of their fan base, fell to third.

Knicks fans after getting the #3 pick. pic.twitter.com/eHnGgWmX5Q

— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) May 15, 2019

The Zion pick was actually New York’s ticket to immediate contention, as it was believed to be the trade chip to land Anthony Davis from New Orleans.

Durant Injury, Kyrie’s Borough Choice Crush Plans

Losing the draft lottery was bad enough, but there was still a solid plan in place (and still could be) as Durant was going to leave basketball nirvana in Oakland for a shot at guiding his own squad to glory. But that plan snapped in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Raptors.

https://twitter.com/BruceBlitz/status/1138271805368672256

KD could still sign with New York, but he’s basically a pre-built condo, with a one-year waiting plan before move in.

That’s not exactly the best-case scenario. Worse than that, it also forces other big chips to look at other options, as tying themselves to an injured Durant and the Knicks isn’t actually that appealing.

Knick fans waking up to rumors about Kyrie signing to the nets pic.twitter.com/FGsx2cbnw0

— jimmythethetypeofnibba (@jimmythethetyp1) June 16, 2019

Because of that, it’s almost a foregone conclusion that Irving is taking his talents to Brooklyn with the Nets.

Are Knicks Worthy of a Wager?

The Anthony Davis trade to the Lakers ensured that New York’s best laid plans for 2020 were in complete rubble. But in chasing dreams, did the Knicks already doom their upcoming year?

Had they stayed pat at last season’s trade deadline, the Knicks would have Kristaps Porzingis (fully healthy from a torn ACL) and Barrett, a stud wing expected to lead Team Canada hoops to new heights.

What can we expect from a LeBron-Anthony Davis team-up?@ScottiePippen and @RamonaShelburne chime in on the new-look Lakers pic.twitter.com/DypUp35hfA

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) June 17, 2019

That, and oodles of cap space, would have allowed them to go tier-2 star shopping, with names like Tobias Harris, Derrick Rose, JJ Reddick and Jimmy Butler able to round out the roster.

Hindsight is definitely 20/20, but this is so Knicks. They’re a few years, and more dreams away from being title contenders.