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Leading Trade Groups Announce Partnership to Address Issues Facing Global Gaming Industry

Three of the world’s most prominent trade groups representing the interests of gaming operators in the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe have announced a pact.

gaming trade groups AGA American Gaming Association
(L to R) Graine Hurst, CEO of the Betting & Gaming Council, American Gaming Association President and CEO Bill Miller, and European Casino Association Chair Erwin Van Lambaart sign a pact to collaborate on addressing issues facing the global gaming industry. The landmark memorandum of understanding was signed at the 2024 Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas on Oct. 9, 2024. (Image: American Gaming Association)

On Wednesday, the American Gaming Association, the UK’s Betting & Gaming Council, and the European Casino Association announced a memorandum of understanding that marks the beginning of a cross-Atlantic collaboration to share industry values and priorities. The three organizations each committed to addressing key matters facing the global gaming industry, including ongoing efforts to stop illegal gambling and promote responsible gaming, innovation, and casino security.

This new partnership is a significant step forward in our collective efforts to advance the legal gaming industry and protect consumers around the globe,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “By sharing our unique resources, we will expand our fight against illegal gambling to new fronts, work together to strengthen responsible gaming, and innovate around business best practices.”

The collaborative announcement came during the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) that is currently being held at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas. The event concludes today.

Research Focus

The three trade groups, which promote laws and regulations favorable to the casinos and gaming operators they represent, say their alignment will better foster the development of joint research and expedite the implementation of new best practices.

The first initiative, the groups said, will be a law enforcement roundtable in January 2025. The discussion will center on how illegal gambling impacts the regulated industry and puts consumers at risk.

The session will explore strategies to enhance cross-jurisdictional communication and the development of “actionable solutions” to address the challenges associated with illegal gambling, a statement regarding the collaboration explained.

Gaming Getting Younger

The global gaming industry is richer than ever before. In 2023, the US, the richest gaming country in the world, generated almost $110 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR) from commercial and tribal gaming operations.

Gaming continues to expand worldwide. The United Arab Emirates’ forthcoming casino industry is projected to add up to $5 billion annually in new GGR, while new casinos in the Philippines, Vietnam, and South Korea additionally continue to open.

Macau’s COVID-19 recovery is ongoing. In the US, casinos continue to debut in jurisdictions like Virginia and Illinois, and the global industry’s eyes are heavily fixated on the impending integrated casino resort developments in New York City.

Miller said at G2E this week that the gaming demographic, at least stateside, is finally trending younger. After years of toying with new ideas, including electronic games that included skill elements, as millennials were thought not to enjoy slots nearly as much as their parents and grandparents, Miller says the industry’s innovators have finally found new ways to appeal to younger people. Sports betting has also helped.

A decade ago, the gaming industry was trying to figure out why we weren’t appealing to younger generations. The mantra back then was, well, we’ll get them when they’re 50,” Miller explained.

Miller detailed that the average age of a casino patron in 2019 was 50. Today, it’s 42.

“This is a huge shift,” Miller said. “It’s one that we need to keep driving to stay on the growth trajectory.”

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Los Angeles Dodgers Add Four Players Prior to Trade Deadline

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired relief pitcher Mike Kelly and utilityman Enrique Hernandez prior to the trade deadline, and both players were a part of the team that won the 2020 World Series. The Dodgers also added starting pitcher Lance Lynn and shortstop Amed Rosario in trades this week.

Enrqiue Hernandez
Los Angeles Dodgers acquired utilityman Enrique Hernandez, seen here celebrating a victory with the Boston Red Sox, in a trade to bring back the former Dodger. (Image: AP)

The Atlanta Braves are the best team in the National League with a 65-38 record. The Dodgers are the second-best team in the NL at 58-44, even though their pitching staff has been ravished with injuries. The Cincinnati Reds (57-48) are the surprise team in the NL this season, and they’re fighting to win the NL Central title thanks to a double-digit winning streak in June.

The Braves and Dodgers are among the most active teams at the deadline. They top two World Series favorites seek to strengthen their rosters for a postseason run. The Braves attempt to win a second World Series in the last three seasons, and the Dodgers are on a mission to deliver a second championship since 2020. Both teams had disappointing exits in the 2022 MLB playoffs.

Hollywood ER: Banged-Up Dodgers

The Dodgers’ starting rotation is in shambles. They lost starting pitcher Dustin May to season-ending elbow surgery. Former ace Clayton Kershaw is currently on the IL. Walker Buehler has been slowly recovering from Tommy John surgery. Noah Syndergaard was a bust. Julio Urias has been healthy, but inconsistent.

Manager Dave Roberts had been rolling the dice with a trio of rookies — Michael Grove, Bobby Miller, and Emmet Sheehan, Bobby Miller — all of whom stepped up and provided the Dodgers with strong outings. The Dodgers know they’ll need additional arms down the stretch, especially veterans when the postseason rolls around.

The Dodgers also parted ways with Syndergaard. The right-handed starting pitcher nicknamed “Thor” due to his long hair, signed a one-year contract this past offseason. Syndergaard posted a 1-4 record with a 7.16 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 12 starts with the Dodgers before he headed to the IL with blisters on his pitching hand. They traded him to the Cleveland Guardians where he expects to get a fresh start.

The Dodgers added righty starter Lance Lynn in a trade with the White Sox. Lynn struggled this season with a 6-9 record in 21 starts. He posted a 6.47 ERA and 1.46 WHIP, and coughed up an MLB-leading 28 home runs this season. Roberts will rely on Lynn to soak up innings in August.

The Dodgers are still shopping for starting pitchers, which is why there’s plenty of rumors swirling around Tinsel Town that they have their sights on Justin Verlander from the New York Mets.

Dodgers Bring Back Hernandez and Kelly

The Dodgers acquired the versatile Hernandez in a trade with the Boston Red Sox for right-handed relief pitchers Nick Robertson and Justin Hagenman. Roberts will platoon Hernandez at second base, and he could also see time in the outfield.

It’s weird to be here,” said Hernandez. “It feels like it’s been forever, but at the same time it feels like it was yesterday that I was here.”

Hernandez was an integral part of the 2020 team that won the World Series. He spent six seasons with the Dodgers, and the feisty Hernandez had become a fan favorite during his previous stint. Hernandez struggled with the Red Sox, and hit only .222 this season.

The Dodgers also added another member of their 2020 championship squad with Kelly. The right-handed reliever spent three seasons with the Dodgers between 2019-21.

Kelly battled injuries this season including a strained groin and elbow inflammation. He appeared in 35 games with the White Sox this season. He went 1-5 with a 4.97 ERA and 1.31 WHIP.

“I would argue that Kelly’s stuff — the velocity, the curveball — is even better than it was when he was with us,” said Roberts. “He’s a guy, like most players, when they’re in a winning environment, they thrive.”

The Dodgers sent outfielder Trayce Thompson to the White Sox, along with minor league pitchers Nick Nastrini and Jordan Leasure to complete the trade for Kelly and Lynn.

The Dodgers also acquired shortstop Amed Rosario from the Guardians in a trade for Syndergaard. Rosario appeared in 94 games with the Guardians and posted a slashline of .265/.306/.369.

Betting the Dodgers Down the Stretch

The Braves are the consensus favorite to win the 2023 World Series at +330 odds, and the Dodgers are second on DraftKings’ futures board at +500 odds.

The Braves are +160 odds to win the NL pennant, and the Dodgers are right behind them at +240 odds.

The Dodgers have a 13.4% chance to win the World Series, according to FanGraphs. The Braves are the only team with a higher projection with a 24.8% chance to secure a World Series victory.

The Dodgers dominated the NL West over the last decade with nine division titles. They won 104 or more games four times since 2017, but failed to win the World Series in any of those seasons. Last year, the Dodgers won a franchise-best 111 games, but were eliminated in the NLDS by the San Diego Padres.

Despite some phenomenal seasons since 2017, the Dodgers only have one World Series victory which occurred during the pandemic-shortened season of 2020.

The Dodgers hold a two-game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the NL West standings. The Dodgers are huge favorites at -500 odds to win the NL West for a tenth time in the last 11 seasons. The Giants are +650 odds to win the division for a second time since 2021. According to FanGraphs, the Dodgers have a 78% chance to secure the NL West crown, and the Giants have only 11.8% chance to win the division.

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Los Angeles Clippers a Favorite to Add James Harden in a Trade

The Philadelphia 76ers and guard James Harden are headed for a divorce. The Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks are among the betting favorites to land Harden in a trade from the 76ers, with the Clippers at -250 odds and the Knicks at +650.

James Harden
Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden, seen here bringing the ball up the court at Wells Fargo Arena, is the subject of offseason trade rumors to the Los Angeles Clippers. (Image: Getty)

Harden turns 34-years old in August. He averaged 21 points, 10.7 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game last season with the 76ers. He scaled back his scoring and led the league in assists while he took on the role of playmaker who set up is teammates. Although Harden only averaged seven 3-point attempts per game this season, he knocked down 38.5% of his 3-pointers, which was the second-best percentage of his career and his best clip in a decade.

Several teams are in the running for Harden’s services according to a prop bet from DraftKings. The Clippers are the outright favorite to secure Harden in a trade at -250 odds. The 76ers are +380 odds to retain Harden for the start of the season, but they could still potentially deal him later in the season.

The Knicks are third on the betting board at +650 odds to add Harden in a trade, followed by the Miami Heat at +800, Dallas Mavericks (+1200), Rockets (++1600), Los Angeles Lakers (+2000), Phoenix Suns (+2500), New Orleans Pelicans (+4000), Minnesota Timberwolves (+4000), Milwaukee Bucks (+5000), Portland Trail Blazers (+5000), and Oklahoma City Thunder (+5000).

Quickie Divorce Between the 76ers and Harden

The 76ers (54-28) secured the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, but had another disappointing postseason exit when they were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the conference semifinals. The team parted ways with head coach Doc Rivers, and hired Nick Nurse.

Free agency officially started on Friday, but all signs last weekend suggested that Harden would explore free agency and sign with another team instead of opting in for a final year of his contract. The Houston Rockets, one of Harden’s former teams, emerged as betting favorites to add Harden in free agency.

Earlier this week, The Athletic reported that Harden would not explore free agency and he would exercise a player option for the 2023-24 season worth $35.6 million. The 76ers said they would explore trade options and field offers for Harden, and Harden indicated that he’d prefer to join the Clippers.

When oddsmakers opened the NBA futures markets for next season in early June, the 76ers were +1300 odds to win the 2023-24 NBA championship. The 76ers are currently +1500 odds amidst all the Harden drama.

The Beard Goes to Hollywood: Clippers -250

The Athletic floated a Harden trade scenario to the Clippers in a recent article. The 76ers would send Harden and forward Tobias Harris to the Clippers in exchange for guard Paul George, sixth man Norman Powell, and forward Marcus Morris.

The Clippers have been soft shopping George in the media over the last two weeks. Several rumors suggested the Clippers would trade George to the Knicks, but the local media in the Big Apple quickly dispelled those rumors. However, in the last 24 hours, a swap for Harden and George has been gaining momentum.

Harden Returns to NYC: Knicks +650

The Knicks are often mentioned in high-profile trade rumors, but they seldom come to fruition like the ubiquitous Damian Lillard trade rumor that won’t die down.

During the 2023 playoffs, multiple talking heads were calling for the Knicks to trade forward Julius Randle. When the postseason ended, rumors surfaced that the Knicks were looking at trading Randle to the Minnesota Timberwolves for big man Karl-Anthony Towns or sending Randle to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for forward Brandon Ingram.

Shortly after the 76ers fired Rivers, airwaves were filled with trade chatter involving the Knicks and center Joel Embiid.

Harden forced a trade out from the Brooklyn Nets in 2022, but could he return to Gotham to play for the Knicks? Fans in the tri-state area have mixed feelings about Harden returning to New York City. If the Knicks work out a trade with the 76ers, then Embiid is the preferred target and not Harden.

Any trade package for Harden would entail the Knicks dealing swingman RJ Barrett, sixth man Josh Hart, backup point guard Immanuel Quickly and a first-round draft pick.

South Beach Harden: Heat +800

The Miami Heat secured the #8 playoff seed through the play-in tournament, but then got hot in the playoffs and ran the table to win the Eastern Conference title. They ran out of gas in the NBA Finals, but lacked the fire power to keep up with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and the Denver Nuggets.

The Heat have had the hots for Bradley Beal for a couple of seasons, but they were unable to work out a trade. The Washington Wizards dealt Beal to the Phoenix Suns in an unexpected trade, which sent ripples through the NBA. The Suns dealt point guard Chris Paul to the Wizards in the Beal trade, but the Wizards quickly flipped Paul to the Golden State Warriors.

In the meantime, the Heat shifted their focus on adding Damian Lillard in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers. Earlier this week, the Trail Blazers shot down the Heat’s best trade offer, but the Heat are not going to give up so easily.

Although the Lillard trade talks cooled down, but the Heat could make a pitch for Harden in a deal that includes forward Caleb Martin, a pair of first-round picks, and either point guard Kyle Lowry or shooting guard Tyler Herro.

The Heat need help in their backcourt. They already lost guards Gabe Vincent and Max Strus in free agency, and traded Victor Oladipo to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the last 24 hours.

Rip City Harden: Trail Blazers +5000

The Portland Trail Blazers won one NBA championship during the 1976-77 season, when they were led by a bearded hippie named Bill Walton. The Trail Blazers have not won a title in 46 years, despite a pair of NBA Finals appearances in the early 1990s. Could another bearded NBA star finally lead the Trail Blazers back to the promised land?

The Trail Blazers stated their intentions to build a championship squad around Damian Lillard. They did not trade the #3 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft despite numerous offers from teams seeking to move up in the draft. They retained their lottery pick and selected guard Scoot Henderson instead.

If the 76ers trade Harden to the Pacific Northwest, then the Trail Blazers can form a Lillard/Harden backcourt. If that happens, the Trail Blazers would have to send recently-drafted Henderson and either one of their top up-and-coming guards Anfernee Simons or Shaedon Sharpe to the 76ers.

However, on Saturday morning, Shams Charania reported that Lillard officially requested a trade and that the Heat and 76ers are leading candidates to land the seven-time NBA All-Star. The 76ers and Trail Blazers are currently discussing a swap for Harden and Lillard.

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New York Knicks Explore Trade Options for All-Star Julius Randle

The latest trade rumor from the Big Apple suggest the New York Knicks are considering an offseason move involving All-Star forward Julius Randle and big man Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Julius Randle Karl-Anthony Towns
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns, seen here during a game at Madison Square Garden in New York City, are the subject of recent trade rumors. (Image: Getty)

The Knicks were mentioned in trade rumors with the Philadelphia 76ers last week according to the Lowe Post podcast. The 76ers fired head coach Doc Rivers, and airwaves in Gotham quickly filled with chatter about a potential deal to bring MVP center Joel Embiid to the Knicks.

The Embiid to Knicks deal seems farfetched and half-baked, but it garnered national media attention. It also drowned out other trade rumors involving Randle, which began during the postseason and bubbled to the surface after the Knicks were knocked out of the playoffs by the Miami Heat.

The Knicks inked Randle to a four-year deal worth $117 million. The 28-year-old Randle has a player option in the 2025-26 season worth $29.5 million, and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.

Randle Exposed in the Playoffs

The Knicks were the #5 seed and looked like a far superior team than their opponent in the first round. The Knicks picked off the #4 Cleveland Cavs in five games to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals. They squared off against the #8 Heat who were fresh off an upset over the #1 Milwaukee Bucks. The Knicks were the betting favorite to win the series at -145 odds, and the Heat were the underdog at +120.

The Heat needed six games to defeat the Knicks, but the Knicks seemed overmatched the entire series. Point guard Jalen Brunson emerged as the Knicks true north star, while Randle’s deficiencies were exposed for a second time in the playoffs in the last three seasons. The abysmal Knicks shot 29.2% from 3-point range in the playoffs. Randle struggled from beyond the arc with a 25% success rate.

An ankle injury slowed down Randle, but he was the third-best scorer in the postseason by averaging only 16.6 points per game. That’s a huge drop off from the Knicks leading scorer (26.1 ppg) who secured a second trip to the All-Star Game in the last three seasons.

In the middle the Heat series, offseason trade rumors flared up courtesy of Stephen A. Smith. The brash ESPN pundit was not shy about his disappointment in Randle, and called for the Knicks to trade him in the offseason.

They should trade him, if you could get your hands on somebody like Karl-Anthony Towns,” said Smith on ESPN’s First Take.

It’s one thing to criticize a star player’s lethargic performance after they were eliminated from postseason contention, but it’s an entirely different story when the talking heads are demanding a trade in the middle of the conference semifinals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=228r_VF_CJ8

Disgruntled KAT in the Twin Cities

The Minnesota Timberwolves gave up four first-round picks and a slew of role players last summer for center and defensive guru Rudy Gobert who splintered the Utah Jazz’s locker room due to his mercurial nature.

It took several years before Jazz players grew tired of Gobert’s prickly behavior, but the Timberwolves soured on Gobert before Thanksgiving.

In the previous season, the high-scoring Timberwolves were an up-and-coming and exciting team to watch. They needed a veteran force and defensive stopper if they wanted to become a serious contender, which is why the addition of Gobert made sense in theory. The Timberwolves saw an instant odds boost to win the 2022-23 NBA championship at +3500 after the Gobert trade.

In reality, the team’s chemistry was drastically altered after adding Gobert to the mix. Towns in particular could not mesh with Gobert, and the two were embroiled in a cold war in the locker room. Towns missed 53 games due a scary calf injury, and the Timberwolves finished the season with a 42-40 record.

The Timberwolves secured the #8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, but they were eliminated in five games by the #1 Denver Nuggets. Guard Anthony Edwards averaged 31.6 points per game in the playoffs, but Towns only averaged 18.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game while shooting 25% from 3-point range.

The Timberwolves should probably ditch Gobert to improve their chemistry, but they gave up too much of a haul in the Jazz trade so their stuck with him. It makes more sense to try to rebuild a team around Edwards and Gobert, and trade Towns to the highest bidder.

Knicks to Trade Randle for Towns and Ingram?

New Orleans Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson has never been shy about his love of Madison Square Garden, which is why Knicks fans were giddy about the possibility of adding the former #1 pick in the draft in a future trade.

Williamson and Knicks small forward RJ Barret developed a close friendship while playing at Duke together, which fueled potential trade rumors. Injuries plagued Williamson during his short career, which cooled down any potential trade talk. However, Barrett and Williamson could reunite if the Knicks trade Barret to the Pelicans. One minor trade rumor suggested the Knicks send Barrett to the Pelicans for forward Brandon Ingram.

However, the biggest rumor involves a multi-team blockbuster trade with the Knicks, Timberwolves, and Pelicans. The Knicks would acquire Towns and Ingram in a three-team trade where the Knicks send Randle and a first-round pick to the Timberwolves, and the Knicks send Barrett, guard Derrick Rose, and two first-round picks to the Pelicans. The Timberwolves would send forward Taurean Prince to the Pelicans, and the Pelicans would send former lottery pick and small forward Dyson Daniels to the Timberwolves to complete the trade.

As a kid who grew up in New Jersey, Towns rooted for the Knicks. He’d love to play for his hometown team, especially if it meant an immediate split from Gobert.

Towns made his first All-Star team in the 2017-18 season when Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau was with the Timberwolves. He also has ties to Knicks general manager Leon Rose, a former agent at CAA, who used to be Towns’ agent.

Lone Star Randle

Randle grew up in Plano, Texas where he emerged as multi-sport star in high school. A return to his home state would not be the worst landing spot for Randle, especially to the Dallas Mavs.

The Mavs are at a crossroads heading into next season after a disappointing 2022-23 campaign. Led by superstar Luka Don?i?, the Mavs advanced to the 2022 Western Conference finals last season. Don?i? was the consensus preseason favorite to win the MVP this season, and the Mavs were a popular pick to win the 2022-23 NBA championship at +2200 odds.

After a lackluster first half of the season, the Mavs gambled on a trade for guard Kyrie Irving. Despite the addition of Irving, the Mavs missed the playoffs this season with a 38-44 record. They were so bad that they bubbled the Western Conference Play-In Tournament and finished in 11th place in the west.

Irving is a free agent, and the Mavs have not expressed any interest in signing him after the Irving/Don?i? experiment failed to produce a postseason berth. The Mavs need to add another scorer to help out Don?i?, and Randle would be a much better fit with the Mavs.

The Mavs could send center/forward Christian Wood to the Knicks for Randle and backup center Isaiah Hartenstein. The Knicks would also love to get back two former players in a trade for Randle, including forwards Reggie Bullock and Tim Hardaway, Jr.

If the Knicks are unable to work out a mega-deal for Towns and Randle, the Mavs are ready to step in as a worthy and alternative trade partner.

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Kyrie Irving Trade Request: Bet Possibilities Are Endless

Kyrie Irving wants out of Brooklyn, and another loyal fan base has been lost. Nets fans, welcome to the world of Cavs and Celtics fans.

Let’s just say the guy has tremendous handles, crazy hoops skills, and an IQ that is off the charts. But he sure knows how to stir the pot when he wants to, eh?

So where to? And that is where it gets interesting from a wagering perspective. When a talent like that comes onto the market, half of the NBA becomes interested. And with only four days left until the NBA trade deadline, we are about to see one heck of a hectic week.

Some books are making the Miami Heat the favorite, mostly because forward Duncan Robinson and guard Kyle Lowry can be had, and that deal would give the Nets a point guard with experience and yet another 3-point shooter to complement Kevin Durant, Seth Curry, and Joe Harris (if the latter two remain). The Heat, by the way, are +4000 to win the title.

But the Lakers have to be in play, too, because a pairing of three superstars has been a tried and true formula in winning NBA championships. Put Kyrie with forward LeBron James and center Anthony Davis, and you will not see the Lakers championship odds where they are today (+3000). Guard Russell Westbrook and at least one first-round pick would have to be included.

And then we have the Dallas Mavericks, who need a consistent second scorer alongside Luka Don?i?. Power forward Dorian Finney-Smith is available, and guard Spencer Dinwiddie would fill the hole at point guard in the BK. The Mavs are +3500 to win the title.

So we are listing those teams as the easiest potential destinations for Irving. But there are others who will be in the mix. When a guy like Kyrie is on the market, only two teams can be counted out: Cleveland and Boston, where Irving has burned his bridges.

Irving is, how shall we say, mercurial. He won a championship in Cleveland with a last-second shot in the deciding game, then moved to Boston, where he infuriated the fan base by changing his mind as often as Dr. Fauci changed the COVID rules. One of those two guys remains relevant, and it ain’t the elderly doctor. Irving was actually beloved in certain parts of New York because he refused to comply with vaccine mandates, a stance that was eventually held to be constitutional because humans, not governments, get to decide what goes into their bodies. Legions of unionized municipal workers in New York eventually regained their jobs as a result.

So the guys is principled, and when he requests a trade there is a reason behind it that we will come to learn over the course of the upcoming week.

The NBA dominated the sport dialogue in the second week of February because NFL football is dormant, baseball’s spring training has not yet begun, and the trade deadline makes basketball website traffic go through the roof.

In the gambling world, it is a matter of trying to ascertain which teams make sense, and then wager away. We can pretty much forget about the Nets winning their division, because they sit five games behind Boston and would lose the tiebreaker to the Celtics. But the Sixers? They are just 2 games back and have odds of +600 to win the Atlantic. They have won 14 of 17, Joel Embiid is climbing up the MVP charts and they have three games left against Boston, which has lost four of six. At +900 to win the division, that is not the worst wager idea in the history of ideas.

What If Irving Gets Traded to the West?

The Lakers are sitting at +3000 and the Mavs are at +3500, and an Irving acquisition would lower those numbers instantaneously. And let’s not forget the Phoenix Suns, who have been trying to move forward Jae Crowder all season and could package him with guards Landry Shamet and Dario Šari? i to make the deal work, cap-wise, throwing in one or more first-round picks. They do not owe any picks to anyone, and new owner Mat Ishbia wants to make a splash. Phoenix is +2000, and let’s face it: The West is wide-open with just three games separating the fourth and 13th place teams.

Bottom line: Irving will be in demand, and he picked the right time to make this trade request.

Because the West is so jumbled, we have to think outside the box and take a look at a few teams that do not fit the big market mold of Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. Irving is on an expiring contract, but he also wants to be beloved. So if he got traded to a small market, he would have that chance. Small markets love it when big-time superstars come aboard.

A few ideas:

The Sacramento Kings are +6000 to win the West and are sitting in fourth place in the West. The have a point center in Domantas Sabonis who would be in the MVP conversation if he were not playing in Sacto, along with an emerging star in point guard De’Aaron Fox. A trade of Irving for Richaun Holmes, Malik Monk, Kevin Huerter and at least one unprotected first-round pick works cap wise, and if you like it you can pounce on the Kings at +2200 to win the West.

The New Orleans Pelicans have lost 10 straight games while they await the return of Zion Williamson, and they have the Lakers’ first-round pick. If you were Pels GM David Griffin, would you surrender a boatload of some of the six picks owed by the Lakers and Bucks along with Trey Murphy, Willy Hernangomez, Dyson Daniels, Jaxson Hayes and Devonte Graham for Irving? The players ain’t all that much, but the picks restock the cupboard that Sean Marks emptied when he acquired James Harden.

The Nets need two things: Peace and picks. Marks’ job over the upcoming week is to find the best package that fulfills that need. Your job as a gambler is to think like Marks and pounce on a team with long odds that has a realistic chance to get Irving. Yes, sports gambling is fun on trade deadline week.

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