There are a lot of intriguing betting options ahead of Thursday’s NBA draft if you’re willing to look past the first few picks.
We’ve known for months that French sensation Victor Wembanyama will be the first pick of the draft given his combination of height and exceptional skillset. And BetMGM knows we know who the Spurs are going to take. Wembanyama is -10000 to go No. 1 to San Antonio with the first pick. Those odds mean you need to bet $100 to win $1.
Brandon Miller is now the significant favorite to go at No. 2 to the Charlotte Hornets. The odds have see-sawed between Miller and Scoot Henderson at No. 2 for a few days but Miller appears to be the solid favorite a day before the draft. The former Alabama star is at -300 to go No. 2 while Henderson is at +175.
Henderson is the big favorite to go No. 3 at -300. The Portland Trail Blazers currently hold what looks to be the most intriguing pick of the draft. The Blazers could keep the pick and make a selection or use it as a trade asset to get back veteran help for star guard Damian Lillard in an attempt to make one final push with Lillard on the team.
No matter what Portland does, it will be a surprise if Henderson doesn’t go third if Miller is the second pick.
Things are largely unknown after the top three
The draft can get really interesting after the third pick. Houston currently holds the No. 4 pick and Yahoo Sports’ Krysten Peek has the Rockets selecting the G-League’s Amen Thompson. He’s the betting favorite to go No. 4 at -225 with Cam Whitmore at +325 and Thompson’s twin brother Ausar at +600.
There’s no real favorite at No. 5. The Detroit Pistons fell out of the top four in the draft lottery and could go in various directions to supplement Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey and its current collection of highly-drafted big men. Peek has the Pistons taking Villanova’s Whitmore with the pick and he’s the co-favorite with Houston’s Jarace Walker at +175.
From there, just one other player has odds better than +200 at a top-10 draft spot. That’s Anthony Black at No. 8. The Arkansas guard is +140 to go No. 8 to the Washington Wizards as Washington looks for long-term backcourt help following its trade of Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns.
Here are the favorites for each of the top 10 picks in Thursday night’s draft along with Peek’s latest projections.
1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Charlotte Hornets
3. Portland Trail Blazers
4. Houston Rockets
5. Detroit Pistons
6. Orlando Magic
7. Indiana Pacers
8. Washington Wizards
9. Utah Jazz
10. Dallas Mavericks
