Oddsmaker gives Lakers even lower championship odds after NBA draft

The Lakers were happy to land Julius Randle with the seventh overall pick in last Thursday’s NBA Draft.

Oddsmakers may have been looking for more.

Before Thursday, the Lakers were a 40-1 long shot to win the NBA title, according to online oddsmaker BettingSports.com.

After the draft, the Lakers fell to 60-1 odds.

That may not be a slight on Kentucky forward Randle, who helped the Wildcats advance to the NCAA championship game, but more on the absence of a blockbuster trade to jump-start Kobe Bryant and the Lakers back to immediate contention.

The Lakers may have significant cap room in July to try and remake the roster. Perhaps a few choice moves will improve the team’s odds.

BettingSports.com has the Miami Heat with 4-1 odds, ahead of both the San Antonio Spurs (11-2), Chicago Bulls (8-1), Oklahoma City Thunder (8-1) and Clippers (10-1).

The Lakers are on par with the Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Hornets, with better odds than the Atlanta Hawks (70-1), Phoenix Suns (75-1), Minnesota Timberwolves (75-1), Boston Celtics (75-1), Utah Jazz (150-1), Sacramento Kings (150-1), Orlando Magic (150-1), Philadelphia 76ers (250-1) and Milwaukee Bucks (300-1).

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.