The Toronto Raptors may have been knocked out of the playoffs in the first round as a No. 3 seed, yet that experience will almost certainly help the team improve and become a legitimate Eastern Conference threat in 2014. Toronto put together a young and talented squad that produced a 48-34 record during the regular season, but it was simply overmatched by collective playoff experience of the Brooklyn Nets.

The NBA season is filled with disappointments and shortcomings, and an early first-round exit at the hands of veteran team is almost a requirement for those young squads trying to compete for an NBA title. The Raptors are a small-market organization that does not get much attention around the league, and wagering on them throughout the year could be a great place to find value. Let's take a closer look at Toronto's 2014 futures odds with predictions and analysis. All odds come from Bovada.

2014 Toronto Raptors Betting Story Lines

Toronto was a Kyle Lowry layup away from facing the Miami Heat in the second round of the playoffs, but a poorly-executed play during the final seconds of a close Game 7 caused the shot to be blocked by Paul Pierce and put a premature end to the team's breakout season. The Raptors did not make many moves during free agency and are instead hoping that a tense playoff experience and a long offseason will add a bit of maturity and grit to the already-talented roster.

Lowry was pursued heavily during the free agency, but ultimately he decided to re-sign with the Raptors and continue to help build a contender in Toronto. The guard has spent an NBA career being thought of as a role player or secondary option, and he has said in multiple interviews over the summer that he relishes the chance to be a leader and primary weapon on a playoff team.

2014 Toronto Raptors Addition and Departures

Toronto's biggest accomplishment during the offseason was re-signing Lowry, who had a huge offer from Houston Rockets on the table. The point guard has since said he is "all in" on the Raptors. The team did not make may other moves during the summer and will essentially be brining the same roster to the floor in 2014. Toronto did add Louis
William and James Johnson, both of which could offer quality minutes off the bench. The team also lost sharpshooter Steve Novak during free agency

2014 Toronto Raptors Futures Odds and Trends

NBA Title Odds : +5000

Eastern Conference Odds : +2500

Atlantic Division Odds : +120

Toronto is not receiving any real consideration as a championship contender from the oddsmakers. The team's NBA and Eastern Conference title odds are in the long shot realm, but the real value lies in Toronto's Atlantic Division odds, where their only competition will be two struggling franchises in New York and Brooklyn. Expect the Raptors to have another excellent regular season and settle into the third sport in the East once the year is over.

2014 Toronto Raptors Predictions and Futures Odds Picks

Record : 50-32 (third in East)

Playoffs : second-round exit

Division : Atlantic Division champions

Toronto is in a similar position as the Oklahoma City Thunder were four seasons ago when they suffered a close first-round exit at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers but ended up using that experience as a catalyst to becoming a Western Conference powerhouse. The team may not win a championship this season, but its futures odds are live bets, and the beauty of this entire situation is that the team will continue to stay under the radar and not get much attention throughout the season.

Most bettors will not want to wager on Toronto-the team has a reputation of being a bottom-feeder. However, expect the Raptors to put together an excellent ATS record against playoff teams and as an underdog where they will probably receive extra value on their lines because the public has the wrong image of the team. Toronto will continue to be a group that bettors should keep an eye on.

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Read more articles by George Monroy