Utah Jazz open with 40/1 odds at winning 2021 Championship

Are people already sleeping on the Utah Jazz?

BetOnline released their opening odds at the 2021 NBA Championship, and the Jazz find themselves almost in the bottom half of the league. At 40/1, the Jazz are slated with the same odds as the Pelicans and Suns. This is quite the contrast from last year, when the Jazz had a 14/1 shot at the title, which was top five in the NBA.

Odds to win NBA Championship (BetOnline)

• Los Angeles Lakers: 4/1
• Los Angeles Clippers: 5/1
• Golden State Warriors: 9/1
• Milwaukee Bucks: 9/1
• Boston Celtics: 12/1
• Brooklyn Nets: 12/1
• Miami Heat: 14/1
• Toronto Raptors : 16/1
• Denver Nuggets: 20/1
• Houston Rockets: 22/1
• Dallas Mavericks: 25/1
• Philadelphia 76ers: 33/1
• Portland Trail Blazers: 33/1
• New Orleans Pelicans: 40/1
• Phoenix Suns: 40/1
• Utah Jazz: 40/1
• Oklahoma City Thunder: 66/1
• Memphis Grizzlies: 75/1
• Atlanta Hawks: 100/1
• Chicago Bulls: 100/1
• Indiana Pacers: 100/1
• Washington Wizards: 100/1
• Cleveland Cavaliers: 250/1
• Detroit Pistons: 250/1
• Minnesota Timberwolves: 250/1
• Orlando Magic: 250/1
• Sacramento Kings: 250/1
• San Antonio Spurs: 250/1
• New York Knicks: 300/1
• Charlotte Hornets: 500/1

It’s pretty interesting to see the Jazz drop so far in oddsmakers’ eyes, given that they will probably have a very similar core roster going into next season. Donovan Mitchell has already agreed to sign a max extension, Royce O’neale was extended earlier in the year, Mike Conley is most likely going to exercise his player option on his contract to stay in Utah, and Bojan Bogdanovic and Joe Ingles are pretty much untradeable at this point. The only fluctuation in Utah’s roster might be with Rudy Gobert, who some have speculated might not be a part of Utah’s plan going forward as he enters the final year in his contract. The Jazz would have to trade Rudy, which I don’t think is going to happen. Jordan Clarkson is a also free-agent this offseason, along with Emmanuel Mudiay and Rayjon Tucker. Outside of the few free agents entering this offseason, the Jazz are very likely to run it back with the same squad as last year.

The Jazz’s expectations entering the 2019-20 were very high, which might explain the high odds last season, and lower odds this year after a very disappointing end to the season. Blowing a 3-1 lead in the opening round of the playoffs was a painful experience, and oddsmakers might be thinking of that when they set these odds. But overall, you would have to think the Jazz will be better next year than this year, right? Losing Bogdanovic for the playoffs was huge, and you’ve got to think that things end differently for the Jazz had he been there with them in the bubble.

With all of that being said, who’s betting on the Jazz in 2021? It’s an easy way to turn $25 into $1,000+ right?