NBA Futures: Is an L.A. Champion a Lock?

As we enter the new year it's time to take a look at the NBA futures odds and see which teams the oddsmakers think are contenders and which ones are pretenders. After trading for Anthony Davis to be LeBron James' running mate - and also signing a bevy of veterans including Danny Green, Avery Bradley and Dwight Howard - the Lakers are sitting in first place in the Western Conference with a 30-7 record. They currently have the best odds to win the NBA title but share that distinction with a squad that they also happen to share a home court with: the Los Angeles Clippers.