We welcome back the NBA with a single-game slate, and while I don’t think there’s much value to squeeze out of the spread, there is a bet for this Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Lakers game that already has my money.

While the presence of Dončić, who carried the Dallas Mavericks to last year's NBA Finals, likely makes it more realistic that James can win a fifth NBA title, putting him within one championship of Michael Jordan, it sounds like it is too early to tell whether his new superstar teammate will impact his eventual retirement plans.