If Andrew Bogut is going to slip a second NBA title ring on his oversized hand it appears his Golden State Warriors will have to go through Patty Mills' beefed up San Antonio Spurs.
Las Vegas bookmakers have elevated Spurs as favourites to knock off the reigning NBA champions and represent the Western Conference in the 2015/16 NBA Finals.
The bookies expect Cleveland Cavaliers to dominate the Eastern Conference, setting up a potential battle of the Australian back-up point guards between Mills and Matthew Dellavedova.
Spurs' odds to win the title improved from 10/1 to 4/1 on the weekend when prized free agent and All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge announced he would join San Antonio.
"I'm happy to say I'm going home to Texas," the Dallas-born Aldridge announced on Twitter.
Aldridge is expected to sign a four-year, $US80 million ($A107 million) contract.
A week ago it was believed Mills could become a Spurs' salary cap casualty as the team competed with the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat and Aldridge's former club, the Portland Trail Blazers, to sign the 211-cm big man.
The theory was Spurs' players would have to be shed if the team wanted enough money to pay Aldridge.
Spurs had just retained NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard and shooting guard Danny Green for $US90 million and $US45 million multi-year deals respectively and still had to find money for veteran leader Tim Duncan.
Mills, with $US7 million and two years remaining on his contract, seemed expendable.
But Spurs' roster was thinned when another Aussie, Aron Baynes, was picked up by Detroit Pistons in a three-year, $US20 million deal, Sacramento Kings signed Italian shooting guard/forward Marco Belinelli and Brazilian big man Tiago Splitter went to Atlanta Hawks.
Mills' standing with Spurs' management was also solidified when it was revealed he was the team's secret weapon in recruiting Aldridge.
Mills is the ultimate team man who was drafted by the Trail Blazers in 2009, was beloved in Portland and good mates with Aldridge.
Aldridge set up camp in Los Angeles last week and in what became an $US80 million-plus game of speed dating, had meetings with his short-list of potential teams.
The once great, but today tragic-looking Lakers blew it when they focused their chat on marketing opportunities for Aldridge, not how they'd win on the court.
The also-dismal Knicks were quickly vetoed by Aldridge.
The Suns surprised Aldridge with their presentation and became a contender.
Joining Spurs' entourage in Los Angeles was head coach Gregg Popovich, Duncan, six-time All-Star point guard Tony Parker and old Trail Blazer mate, Mills.
It would seem unlikely that Spurs, the five-time NBA champions built on team loyalty, would use Mills to attract Aldridge and then dump the Aussie in a trade.
Question marks do hang over Dellavedova.
It's unclear if Cavaliers will re-sign their new blue-collar hero, with reports that talks involving a $US3 to $US5 million three-year deal have stalled.
Cavaliers are focused on appeasing free agent LeBron James, who is waiting for the team to re-sign power forward Tristan Thompson.
Another Australian, Joe Ingles, is expected to return to the Utah Jazz while some teams have shown interest in countryman Aussie Dante Exum, but the Jazz aren't interested in trade offers.
Australia was treated to Bogut's Warriors going against Dellavedova's Cavaliers in last month's NBA Finals.
With the bookies naming Cavaliers, Spurs and Warriors three of the top four teams most likely to win the NBA title, 2015/16 could exceed last season's phenomenal year for Australian basketball.
AAP pm/mg
2015/16 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS
Cleveland Cavaliers 9/4
San Antonio Spurs 4/1
Golden State Warriors 5/1
Oklahoma City Thunder 5/1
Chicago Bulls 15/1
Los Angeles Clippers 20/1
Houston Rockets 20/1
New Orleans Pelicans 30/1
Dallas Mavericks 30/1
Miami Heat 30/1
Memphis Grizzlies 30/1
Utah Jazz 100/1
Detroit Pistons 100/1
Los Angeles Lakers 200/1
New York Knicks 200/1
Philadelphia 76ers 300/1
* Odds by Westgate SuperBook
Share
