Do Vegas betting odds tell us something about the Warriors' commitment to a win-now approach?
Last week, we looked at how the Warriors could depth their way back to contention via a patient pathway. Perhaps they could, but recent indications suggest theyre quite aggressively exploring a faster route to success. It didnt exactly make waves, but the release of odds for the 2022 NBA championship was an eyebrow raiser. In it, you can see the thinking of not just sportsbooks, but much of the league, as it gathers together for draft workouts. 2021-22 NBA Championship @SuperBookSports Bkn 3/1  LAL 9/2  GS 8/1  Mil, LAC 10/1  Phi, Uta, Phx 20/1  Den, Atl, Mia 30/1  Dal, Por 40/1  Bos, Tor, NY, Ind 50/1  NO, Mem 60/1  Chi, Cha, Wsh 100/1  SA, Sac, Cle, Orl, Det 200/1  Min 300/1  Hou, OKC 500/1  Jeff Sherman (@golfodds) June 27, 2021  One of the main takeaways here is that the Golden State Warriors, a team that did not make the postseason despite decent health, are third on the list, at 8:1. When I asked Jeff Sherman, who happens to be the VP of risk management and oddsmaking at Westgate SuperBook, he said the following: We are being aggressive knowing people will be looking to support them with the return of Klay and trade assets in Wiggins, Wiseman and picks. We expect them to be aggressive in adding to their team.  The bookmakers are not alone in this expectation. You might have noticed that our John Hollinger has said this about the Warriors. Golden State assured itself of an additional first-round pick when Minnesota failed to land in the top 3 on lottery night. The Warriors now have the seventh and 14th picks plus last years second overall pick, James Wiseman, and there is a widespread expectation that the Warriors will use No. 7 and Wiseman, in particular, to seek more immediate upgrades to the roster. One name to watch: Pascal Siakam.  Thats not the only rumor the Warriors are involved in. Stephen A. Smith spoke of the percolating Ben Simmons possibility. Now, the Damian Lillard situation in Portland opens up some potential scenarios. If were getting fanciful, provided the Bucks come up short, Im quite curious as to what the Warriors would need to trade in exchange for Khris Middletons services. This is a far different NBA than the one we knew a couple of months ago, when almost no star seemed available. The postseason, whether the disappointment of missing it, or the disappointment of being eliminated, tends to shake scenarios loose. The pain and ensuing recriminations of defeat tend to crumble situations that appeared rock-solid from the outside perspective. That, or reality is setting in for much of the league. Everyone was in survive and advance mode for so much of the pandemic. Now, were finally seeing some organizations take a breath and look at themselves. While gazing into the mirror they see that their situations arent so sunny. Their current stars might not be enough to win a championship in the present. They need to rebuild or compete right now, and this is the time for choosing. As reality sets in for them, then perhaps it does too for the Warriors, in a different way. Because the Warriors arent in a rebuild, but they do have youngsters. Gazing into the mirror, they likely see that those youngsters arent on their timeline. Currently, James Wiseman probably isnt a great fit with Steph Curry. Draymond Green doesnt seem to be a great fit with Wiseman either. They dont have multiple seasons for picks No. 7 and 14 to become contributors. While they can fantasize about competing for a title while incubating the next title-winning core, that is likely, indeed, a fantasy. The Warriors probably have to choose the present, and theyve made enough phone calls to suggest that such an option is under heavy consideration, at the very least. Much of the league, including sportsbooks and gamblers, are taking notice of the new reality. Thats why the Warriors, a franchise that watched the playoffs from home, boast better championship odds than anyone in the NBAs remaining Final Four. This isnt just an optimistic call on Klay Thompsons return. Its an optimistic call on the Warriors taking their assets  Wiseman, Jordan Poole, the draft picks  and doing something beyond simply waiting for development. The Warriors seem to believe that they can patiently wait for their title window to open just a crack. That said, the availability of certain stars increases the chances  and the temptation  to simply blast it wide open. Vegas is betting on the latter. Related content  (Photo of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)