2013 NBA Draft Prop Odds - Who will be the No. 1 Pick this Year?
By Anthony Rome
BROOKLYN, NY (The Spread) - The 2013 NBA Draft is Thursday, June 27 from the Barclays Center and oddsmakers have released prop odds surrounding this year's event.
Who will be the top overall pick in this week's draft? According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, Nerlens Noel is the 2/3 favorite to be the No. 1 pick, while Alex Len has the next best odds at 3/2. Ben McLemore is 6/1 to be the top pick, Otto Porter has odds of 10/1, while Victor Oladipo is 12/1. The Cleveland Cavaliers currently own the top pick in this year's draft and according to an ESPN.com report, the Cavs are expected to select either Noel or Len with the top selection.
Who will be the second pick in the 2013 NBA Draft? McLemore is a 7/5 favorite to be the No. 2 overall pick, while Oladipo is 3/2 and Noel is 2/1. Trey Burke of Michigan is the long shot for this prop with 9/1 odds. The Magic currently own the second pick. For what it's worth, ESPN.com is reporting that Timberwolves' GM Flip Saunders is "enamored" with Oladipo, so Minnesota might be willing to trade down from No. 9 in order to acquire the Indiana product.
Anthony Bennett is currently favored at even odds (1/1) to be the third overall pick in Thursday's draft, which is currently held by the Wizards. Porter as the next best odds at 4/3, Noel is 4/1 and McLemore has the longest odds at 5/1.
Bennett is also favored to be the fourth overall selection at 3/2, while Porter is 3/1 and Oladipo is 4/1. Both McLemore and Noel are 5/1, respectively, to be the fourth overall pick, while Len is 11/2. The Bobcats own the fourth selection.
Oladipo, meanwhile, has 1/1 odds to be the fifth overall pick this year while McLemore is 3/1 and Len is 7/2. Bennett has 4/1 odds, while Burke has 13/2 odds. The Suns round out the top 5 with the fifth overall selection.
Oddsmakers have also released over/under totals for what number slot certain players will be drafted in this year. Kelly Olnyk, for example, has an over/under of 18 for his draft position. C.J. McCollum has an over/under of 9, while Shabazz Muhammad has an o/u of 14 and Mason Plumlee's draft position is slotted for 17. Burke has an o/u of 7 for his draft position, while Cody Zeller has an o/u of 10 and Tim Hardaway Jr. has an o/u of 27.
How many non-NCAA players will be drafted in the first round this year? The over/under has been set at 5, while the over/under for draft position for first non-NCAA players has been set at 12.
How many NCAA freshman will be drafted in the first round? The over/under has been set at 6, while the over/under has been set at 3 for how many NCAA seniors will be selected in the first round.
Finally, will any of the top 5 picks be traded prior to the pick being made? The odds for are +150 while the odds against are -200.
The 2013 NBA Draft will be held on Thursday, June 27 at 7:00PM ET. It'll be aired on ESPN and it will take place live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
NBA Draft Wagers
By Bovada.lv
NBA Draft - Who will be the 1st Pick
Nerlens Noel 2/3
Alex Len 3/2
Ben McLemore 6/1
Otto Porter 10/1
Victor Oladipo 12/1
NBA Draft - Who will be the 2nd Pick
Ben McLemore 7/5
Victor Oladipo 3/2
Nerlens Noel 2/1
Trey Burke 9/1
NBA Draft - Who will be the 3rd Pick
Anthony Bennett 1/1
Otto Porter 3/2
Nerlens Noel 4/1
Ben McLemore 5/1
NBA Draft - Who will be the 4th Pick
Anthony Bennett 3/2
Otto Porter 3/1
Victor Oladipo 4/1
Ben McLemore 5/1
Nerlens Noel 5/1
Alex Len 11/2
NBA Draft - Who will be the 5th Pick
Victor Oladipo 1/1
Ben McLemore 3/1
Alex Len 7/2
Anthony Bennett 4/1
Trey Burke 13/2
NBA Draft - Draft Position - Kelly Olynyk
Over/Under 18½
NBA Draft - Draft Position - C.J. McCollum
Over/Under 9½
NBA Draft - Draft Position - Shabazz Muhammad
Over/Under 14½
NBA Draft - Draft Position - Mason Plumlee
Over/Under 17½
NBA Draft - Draft Position - Trey Burke
Over/Under 7½
NBA Draft - Draft Position - Cody Zeller
Over/Under 10½
NBA Draft - Draft Position - Tim Hardaway Jr.
Over/Under 27½
NBA Draft - How many non NCAA players will be drafted in the 1st Round?
Over/Under 5½
NBA Draft - Draft Position - 1st Non NCAA player
Over/Under 12½
NBA Draft - How many NCAA Freshman will be drafted in the 1st Round
Over/Under 6
NBA Draft - How many NCAA Seniors will be drafted in the 1st Round
Over/Under 3
NBA Draft - Will any of the Top 5 picks be traded prior to the pick being made?
Yes +150
No -200
Best Betting Options For The 2013 NBA Draft
By Jason Logan
Covers.com
The 2013 NBA Draft is packed with uncertainty, which is great for bettors looking for value in the numerous props involved with this year’s event.
Not even the No. 1 overall selection is etched in stone, meaning a few surprises here and there can really throw a wrench into teams’ draft strategies and have players going earlier or later than experts and oddsmakers expected.
Here’s how we see the first 10 picks of Thursday’s NBA Draft shaking down based on team needs, player profiles and the endless stream of mock drafts available online:
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers – Nerlens Noel (Kentucky)
Whispers of Greg Oden surround Noel, who blew out his knee this past season, which have the Cavs on the fence between the UK product and Maryland’s Alex Len. If you don’t think Cleveland rolls the dice, take a combo of Len at No. 1 (+200) and Noel’s draft position at No. 2 (+350).
No. 2 Orlando Magic – Ben McLemore (Kansas)
Orlando needs some scoring and McLemore may be one of the purest shooters in the draft. He averaged nearly 16 points at KU and is listed at +155 to go second overall. His biggest competition for the No. 2 spot is Indiana guard Victor Oladipo, who is priced at +125 to go to the Magic.
No. 3 Washington Wizards – Otto Porter (Georgetown)
This pick just fits, with Washington grabbing the do-it-all forward from Georgetown. Porter was the Hoyas offense at times and is a gritty, hardworking complement to the flashy backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal. He’s listed at EVEN money to go No. 3 to the Wiz.
No. 4 Charlotte Bobcats - Victor Oladipo (Indiana)
Oladipo gives Charlotte the most at his position, working his tail off on both ends of the floor. He can score and dazzle to put butts in the seats but also locks down perimeter threats, which wins close ball games. He’s presenting good value to go No. 4 at +300 or even beyond at +550 if the Bobcats go after Len or another big.
No. 5 Phoenix Suns – Trey Burke (Michigan)
Phoenix’s hunt for Steve Nash’s replacement takes only a year. Burke is a winner and a guy who isn’t afraid to make the big play. Many mocks have him slipping down the board but we’re talking about the National Player of the Year and an NCAA tournament runner-up. Books have him at -175 to go No. 5 or higher.
No. 6 New Orleans Pelicans – Alex Len (Maryland)
We’re not the only ones with Len sliding down this far and oddsmakers either have him going No. 1 (+200) or falling to No. 4 or farther (+240). He’s also a health risk, coming off surgery for a stress fracture in his foot. We could see the Pelicans grabbing the 7-footer and shopping him for an established point guard and some backcourt help.
No. 7 Sacramento Kings - C.J. McCollum (Lehigh)
McCollum is just another of the mid-major gems to highlight the draft in recent years, after not getting much attention in the Patriot League. He quietly scored just under 24 points per game before breaking his foot last season. Rumors suggest Sacramento is looking to retool its backcourt with draft day deals, so he could switch hats by the end of the night.
No. 8 Detroit Pistons – Anthony Bennett (UNLV)
Plenty of mock drafts have Bennett heading to Motown, including ESPN’s Chad Ford. Detroit needs a versatile small forward and the UNLV product has the skill set to score on the perimeter or on the blocks. However, it wouldn’t be a shocker to see Bennett go earlier, perhaps even to Washington at No. 3. He’s priced at EVEN money to go between No. 1-5 and -133 to be selected outside of the Top 5.
No. 9 Minnesota Timberwolves – Cody Zeller (Indiana)
Zeller’s physical presence could have him off the board by the time the T-Wolves are on the clock. Minnesota brought in the IU big man for a solo workout this spring and with Kevin Love’s future with the club a little wobbly, the Timberwolves may want an insurance policy under the basket.
No. 10 Portland Trail Blazers – Steven Adams (Pittsburgh)
Adams is among the many big men tempting teams in this year’s draft. But unlike some others, the Pitt product is one of only 13 players invited to sit in the green room Thursday night. He’s projected to go at No. 12 to OKC (via Toronto) by ESPN but Portland needs some size and grit in the paint, and will likely pass on Gonzaga’s Kelly Olynyk – which seems like the logical fit demographically - for Adams.
NBA Draft - Best Bets
By CarbonSports
Now that the Miami Heat’s 2nd championship parade in 12 months is over and done with, the entire NBA world is focussing on this week’s draft. It isn’t considered the “strongest” draft class we’ve seen in recent years, but there are some intriguing prospects up and down the draft board that could make significant impacts next year if they find the right team to ‘fit’ with.
Shane Larkin’s draft position: Over 15.5 (-160) or Under 15.5 (+120)
Where Larkin ends up is a key barometer for how the rest of the 2013 NBA draft pans out. The sophomore PG from Miami turned a lot of heads this past year during Miami’s run to the top of the ACC but there are a few concerns NBA GM’s have about his game seamlessly transitioning to the pros.
The first hurdle is his size. Larkin is listed in the 5’11”-6’0” range and just over 170 pounds. Unless a guy is a top-three talent as a PG at that height, teams will generally shy away from spending a high pick on the player. Larkin showed tremendous leadership down the stretch with the Hurricanes, but he’ll routinely be guarded by much bigger and stronger guys in the NBA and any team that failed to make the playoffs this year (bottom 14), likely won’t want to take a stab with Larkin here.
However there is a team in the Utah Jazz at #14 that is a logical fit for Larkin. Utah needs a PG who can excel on both ends of the floor and Larkin’s defensive ability is one of biggest strengths. But there are some talented guards ranked ahead of him in scouting and the likely competition Larkin will have at this spot is from Dennis Schroeder from Germany. Schroeder comes in as a taller guard (6’2”) and Utah has been known to have a preference for European guys.
When all is said and done I think Larkin’s size will keep him on the board longer than he would like and a better team in the mid-to-high 20’s will scoop him up for a backup-type role.
Take the over.
Who will get drafted first: Cody Zeller (+200) or CJ McCollum (-260)
This prop bet is a tough one as Zeller and McCollum are projected to go in that same 7-15 range at the bottom of the lottery.
Zeller is a big man who really came into his own during his second season at Indiana this year and his individual workouts and combine performances have only helped his stock. But with two PF/C ranked well above him in Noel and Len, it becomes all about draft positioning and need with Zeller.
Obviously you can never have too much size in the NBA, but if a team is willing to draft a big man and wait on him to develop in the D-league or elsewhere, a guy like Pittsburgh’s Steven Adams may have more upside. Even Gonzaga’s Kelly Olynyk is a better scorer than Zeller and if a team decides to go that route, Zeller could fall down draft boards.
SG McCollum is in a similar boat as there are SG’s ranked higher than him on most everyone’s board, but he does have a few things working in his favor. First off, he may not be the pure point guard that Portland’s Damian Lillard is, but Lillard’s success in winning rookie of the year has people believing McCollum can be a similar type scorer. Like Lillard he comes from a small mid-major program and carried Lehigh to new heights while at the school. He could fit on numerous teams in the 5-14 range and actually has more options as landing spots than Zeller.
It’s because of those reasons that I think you have to swallow the chalk here and expect McCollum to be plucked from the board before Zeller is, although I would not be surprised to see them go back-to-back at all.
Take McCollum.