The tall player, arguably the franchise star of the Los Angeles Lakers and the cornerstone around whom the team is built, has expressed that he is no longer interested in being named the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY). Instead, he aims to be recognized as a more complete defensive and offensive player. His sole focus and concern now is to lead the Lakers to the highest level of competitiveness. Let's see what the betters say. Will the Lakers have a chance to win NBA Odds?

After a successful surgery this week, Los Angeles Lakers' center Christian Wood will need to rest and be reevaluated in eight weeks following an operation on his left knee. Wood suffered the injury in February during the previous season, causing him to miss 26 regular and five postseason games. His absence was significant for the team, as he averaged 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game before the injury, serving as a valuable replacement during Anthony Davis’s absence. The Lakers are hopeful for a speedy recovery, as Wood's absence could impact the NBA Odds.

With the new NBA season fast approaching, the Miami Heat faces several key concerns that could impact their performance. Here are the main issues facing the Florida team:

Big news for NBA fans and bettors! Jamal Murray has signed a four-year extension with the Denver Nuggets, securing his future with the team that made him a star. The new deal, worth $400 million, keeps Murray alongside Serbian teammate Nikola Jokic, forming one of the league's most lethal duos and defending the only championship title the Nuggets have ever won.

Brandon Ingram, one of the New Orleans Pelicans' stars, opted not to attend the voluntary minicamp in California last week. Ingram and the newly signed Daniel Theis were the only players who missed the camp, raising concerns among team officials who had hoped Ingram would attend to train with new star point guard Dejounte Murray.