The 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place on June 22, and it will be a live television event on ABC/ESPN. Even though the NBA Draft doesn’t really have any impact on the actual games. All of the NBA teams will be looking for a way to improve their roster for upcoming seasons.
There are many different ways to bet on the NBA Draft, including trying to determine the players that will be a top-five picks. There does seem to be some “locks” when looking at this betting option. But there will always be surprises as well, such as the last-minute NBA draft rumors.
Here is a look at some of the players that should be NBA Draft top picks, especially in the top five of the draft.
A Look at the Odds
If you are going to try to bet on the NBA Draft top picks, then the first thing you have to look at are the odds that are available. These NBA odds are going to be changing in the days leading up to the draft. As there will be events that happen to change things.
Here are the current odds to be the top five NBA Draft picks:
Player | Odds |
Brandon Miller | -10000 |
Amen Thompson | -1600 |
Cam Whitmore | -350 |
Jarace Walker | +300 |
Ausar Thompson | +200 |
Taylor Hendricks | +1000 |
Anthony Black | +2200 |
Gradey Dick | +4000 |
Cason Wallace | +4000 |
Jordan Hawkins | +8000 |
The first three names on this list appear to be the players that should go in the top-five of the NBA Draft. But it will all be about fit for the teams that are drafting in those spots. There could be some information leaked in the days leading up to the draft, and that could cause some of these players to rise or fall.
Two Names Missing
There are two names missing from the list of NBA Draft top picks. As sportsbooks won’t have odds listed for them. Those two players are Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson, and there is a reason that the odds aren’t there.
Both of these players are projected to have terrific NBA player stats after joining the league, and they are expected to go first and second in the draft. Wembanyama should be the top overall pick in the NBA Draft and head to the San Antonio Spurs.
In most years, Scoot Henderson would be a top overall pick in the NBA Draft, but this is not a typical year. Henderson is a player that teams throughout the league will be moving up to try and draft. As he should add to plenty of wins on the NBA schedule next year.
You could look and find the odds to be the number one draft pick if you are wanting to bet that. But, Wembanyama is going to be a big favorite there as well. It does take away some of the drama when the top two picks in the draft are basically decided. But those two players could end up being superstars in the league.
2023 NBA Draft Order
The 2023 NBA Draft order has been set since the Draft Lottery, but that doesn’t mean that things won’t change. With so much separation after the top two picks, NBA teams could be looking to trade out.
If you are going to bet on the top five picks in the NBA Draft, then you have to look at the teams that are picking in those spots. Here is a look at the current NBA Draft order for those selections:
- San Antonio Spurs
- Charlotte Hornets
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Houston Rockets
- Detroit Pistons
If San Antonio Spurs and Charlotte take Wembanyama and Henderson as expected, then that will leave the other three teams trying to identify the best fit. Portland is a team that could end up trading that pick, per NBA draft rumors for a package of NBA stars as they are trying to find some talent to play with Damian Lillard.
If you are going to bet on the top five NBA Draft picks, then it’s important to look for some value as well. Taking a player such as Jarace Walker to be a top-five draft pick at +300 is a good idea, as it could lead to a nice payout.
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