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NBA Finals Odds: Cavaliers have best odds for 2016 NBA Championship, Lakers still long shots

The Lakers might be building a brighter future, but the oddsmakers think they're still a long ways away from contending.

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

It's been less than 24 hours since the Golden State Warriors hoisted up the Larry O'Brien trophy, but odds for the 2016 NBA championship are already in. The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the pack as the 3-1 favorite to win it all next season, with the newly-crowned champions coming in second at 5-1 odds. The Oklahoma City Thunder are third with 7-1 odds. The latest numbers are via Bovada.

The Los Angeles Lakers may have salary space to make moves in free agency and the No. 2 pick on the horizon, but they're still considered long shots to win a championship in the final year of Kobe Bryant's contract. Oddsmakers pin the Lakers odds of winning a championship at 66-1. The Hornets, Magic and 76ers come in as the bottom three teams in the league at 250-1.

These odds won't last long as the NBA Draft is June 25 and free agency beginning on July 1 could change the outlook on the '15-16 season. Impact players like Marc Gasol, DeAndre Jordan and LaMarcus Aldridge are unrestricted free agents, Kevin Love is expected to opt-out, trades have already slowly picked up, and there's the small chance a restricted free agent finds a new home.

May the odds be ever in your favor, retooling NBA teams.

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