Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers were viewed as a team in the middle of a growing process last season. That all changed with the addition of one of the greatest NBA players of all time — and so did the league's betting future odds. L.A. inked LeBron James to a four-year, $154-million contract in July. It altered the Lakers and the balance of power in the Western Conference with one signature.

The reigning champion Golden State Warriors have run away with the Pacific Division title in each of the last three seasons. Spoiler alert: That probably won't change in 2017-18. Still, the territory below them, with the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers, has undergone a change. Let's explore what it all means.

With nine games on the NBA's Saturday night slate, it's important to make the best of certain betting opportunities. But don't sweat the work. We've got you covered. Using TopBet's lines, we offer up five picks for tonight's contests.

It is a two horse race for the Pacific division in 2016, with the Golden State Warriors entering the year as the NBA champs and the Clippers remaining one of the Western conference’s elite team. The Suns, Kings and Lakers all look to get back into the postseason, but will need some serious luck to win the division.