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After a busy offseason, oddsmakers have evaluated the NBA and handicapped the field for the 2018-19 season.

The Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets are the front-runners to make the postseason, and the new-look Los Angeles Lakers have the 11th-best odds:

There aren't any surprises at the top of the list.

The Golden State Warriors have been to four consecutive NBA Finals, winning three while setting the NBA regular-season record with 73 wins in the year they didn't hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Plus, they added All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins this summer.

Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets added 10-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony to a team that finished with the best record (65-17) in the NBA a season ago and came within one game of the Finals.

In the East, the Boston Celtics should have a healthy Gordon Hayward (ankle) and Kyrie Irving (knee) to add to a squad that fell one game shy of the Finals last season. The Toronto Raptors, on the other hand, acquired two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green after winning a franchise-record 59 games in 2017-18.

Perhaps the most surprising part of the list is how far down the Lakers are. Sure, they are in the midst of a five-year playoff drought. However, they made the splash of the offseason by signing LeBron James, who has made eight consecutive Finals. Los Angeles also added former champion Rajon Rondo, two-time champ JaVale McGee, Lance Stephenson and Michael Beasley.

The Lakers wil try to mesh those veterans with a young roster that features Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart. It will be tough to bet against any team that stars one of the greatest players ever.

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James' former club, the Cleveland Cavaliers, are viewed as long shots to return to the playoffs at +325 (bet $100 to win $325). The Cavs locked up five-time All-Star Kevin Love to a five-year, $113 million extension after James left, and they took point guard Collin Sexton with the eighth pick in the NBA draft.

The 2018-19 season tips off Oct. 16.