Las Vegas odds not high for Lakers to make playoffs despite LaVar Ball's claims

The drafting of Lonzo Ball and subsequent declaration of the point guard as the “face of the Lakers” by Los Angeles president Magic Johnson has amplified the hype of a franchise turnaround this upcoming NBA season.

Ball’s outspoken father also hasn’t been shy in forecasting the postseason now that his son is donning the purple and gold.

“Lonzo Ball is going to take the Lakers to the playoffs in his first year,” LaVar Ball said on draft night.

Except the Las Vegas sportsbook suggests otherwise.

The Westgate Las Vegas Superbook posted the latest post-draft odds for teams making the NBA playoffs in 2017-18. And the Lakers’ chances aren’t great, with odds to make the postseason at plus-500 and minus-700 — which means a $100 wager for L.A. to make the postseason would win $500.

Other NBA teams who boosted their stock in the draft via top picks or trades, including the Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves, had much better odds to reach the playoffs and turn around their losing teams.