The Knicks had the worst record in the NBA this season and have yet to make any improvements to their roster, but one Vegas sportsbook is already pegging them as one of the Eastern Conference's best teams next season.
Westgate Las Vegas' SuperBook had the Knicks opening at 16-1 to win the 2019-20 NBA championship, the fourth-best odds in the conference, according to ESPN.
The belief by Jeff Sherman, who's in charge of the SuperBook's NBA odds, is that the Knicks are the favorites to sign Kevin Durant this summer, and that's why the Knicks are 16-1. The Bucks (9-2,) Celtics (7-1) and 76ers (10-1) are ahead of the Knicks, but they'd pull into second-best in the East if they get both Durant and Kyrie Irving.
"I could see them at 12-1(with Durant and Irving,)" Sherman told ESPN. "All we're doing is making these odds based on today's perception on where people think these guys might have a legitimate chance of going."
The Warriors are the early favorites for next year's NBA title at 7-4.