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2020 NBA Draft Odds & Lottery Odds |
What is the NBA Draft?
The annual event is typically held in late June and was scheduled for June 25 prior to COVID-19 wreaking havoc on all plans. The 2020 event was postponed and has been rescheduled for Oct. 15. Prior to the NBA Draft, the league has a NBA Draft Lottery where the order is determined with ping-pong balls via a lottery draw. That event is expected to take place on Aug. 25. The league’s worst teams eye the draft as a way to infuse their franchise with a superstar. Every team is entitled to a single choice in each round, but trades usually mean a handful of teams wind up with multiple picks.
The last 10 No. 1 overall picks since Blake Griffin’s 2009 selection have all left after a single season at the NCAA college basketball level. Griffin departed after his sophomore year. Before him, Derrick Rose and Greg Oden were one-and-dones on the college hardwood. Perennial playoff teams weigh filling needs with simply taking the best prospect available.
Odds To Be The 1st Overall Pick in the 2020 NBA Draft
Top 10 Betting Choices
Odds Subject to Change - Provided by FanDuel
T&C's Apply, 21+, Only in NJ, PA, IN, WV & CO
| Player |
School/Team |
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| James Wiseman |
Memphis |
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| Anthony Edwards |
Georgia |
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| LaMelo Ball |
Illawarra Hawks |
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| Obi Toppin |
Dayton |
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| Deni Avdija |
Maccabi Tel Aviv |
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| Tyrese Haliburton |
Iowa State |
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| Cole Anthony |
North Carolina |
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| RJ Hampton |
New Zealand Breakers |
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| Killian Hayes |
Ratiopharm Ulm |
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| Onyeka Okongwu |
USC |
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Memphis center James Wiseman is expected to be a very high selection in the 2020 NBA Draft by the oddsmakers. (AP)
Who will be the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft?
There are a number of worthy candidates deserving of being the top pick, but unlike the past few seasons, there’s no really clear-cut choice. How a pick fits in with a team’s makeup is likely to play a large role. Presuming Golden State wins the lottery and pays off this past season’s tank job, Memphis 7-foot-1 center James Wiseman would be a nice piece for the team that has everything else. The 2020 class’ undisputed top big man prospect got into just three games at the NCAA level and looked dominant. The 19-year-old Nashville native will be able to run the floor and protect the rim immediately given his 7-foot-6 wingspan.
2020 NBA Draft Contenders
Anthony Edwards
If a team in search of a wing lands the top pick, Georgia’s Edwards checks a lot of boxes. Although his Bulldogs struggled to a 16-16 record, the 18-year-old Atlanta native averaged 19.1 points per game and had numerous big performances. He’s got to improve his perimeter stroke but the 6-foot-5 shooting guard excels at getting his own shot and has explosive athleticism to help him finish in the pros.
LaMelo Ball: The 18-year-old has long been regarded as the top prospect in the Ball family and did nothing to diminish his stock in Australia. Blessed with great length and natural ball-handling skills similar to his older brother Lonzo, the 6-foot-6 guard could play his way into No. 1 status. If he can consistently hit the 3-pointer to complement his passing, defense and size, Ball has a chance to be special.
Obi Toppin
After winning multiple Player of the Year awards following the college basketball season that just ended abruptly, the 22-year-old Dayton star gained himself a lot of admirers. Blessed with excellent athleticism and a smooth all-around game. The Brooklyn native is considerably older than the other guys in the running for No. 1, which could work against him. He’s likely going to wind up playing power forward but should be flexible enough to handle minutes and both other frontcourt spots.
Tyrese Haliburton
A legitimate point guard who sprouted to 6-foot-5, the Iowa State product could really ascend in workouts. He saw his sophomore season ended prematurely by a fractured wrist but dominated at both ends and shot the ball extremely effectively in addition to distributing well. Eddie Jones’ younger cousin is similarly lanky and smooth, so don’t discount him moving up once he’s able to put his game on display.
Deni Avidja
The son of a coach and former Yugoslavian National Team member, Avidja is Isareli and has come up that country’s youth levels before joining long-time hoops power Maccabi Tel Aviv. A 6-foot-9 combo forward, Avidja is the best international prospect in the 2020 crop, having already flourished consistently against grown men in Israel’s domestic league while earning a EuroLeague start before turning 19. He’s the youngest player in Maccabi Tel Aviv history and has started excelling for Israel’s national team despite being the youngest player on the squad.
2020 NBA Draft Odds
Live Longshots
- Cole Anthony, North Carolina +2000
- RJ Hampton, New Zealand Breakers +2000
- Killian Hayes, Ratiopharm Ulm +2000
- Onyeka Okongwu, USC +2200
- Isaac Okoro, Auburn +4000
- Tyrese Maxey, Kentucky +5000
- Nico Mannion, Arizona +6600
- Jalen McDaniels, San Diego State +6600
- Vernon Carey, Jr. Duke +7500
- Theo Maledon, ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne +7500
- Precious Achiuwa, Memphis +8000
- Isaiah Stewart, Washington +8000
Cole Anthony
Despite being expected to have a huge impact in Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels slumped to their worst season in over a decade. Anthony missed time due to having his knee scoped and couldn’t rally teammates upon his return. He shot the ball well and has a chance to be the top point guard in this class if he slows himself down and improves his efficiency once he gets around players at his level. He’ll have to prove he’s 100 percent, but the 19-year-old was a consensus top-five recruit for a reason.
Killian Hayes
Born in Lakeland but raised in both France and Central Florida, Hayes has been playing pro ball overseas since 2017 after thriving as the best player in the French junior pro league. A long-limbed 6-foot-5 point guard who has displayed a great feel, he joined the Basketball Bundesliga and held his own, improving his stock. He’ll be 18 until late July and should get a long look in workouts. If he can dramatically approve his jumper, he’s got a shot to climb into the mix at the top.
2020 NBA Draft Odds
Off the Radar Longshots
(Odds of 100/1 or higher)
- Kerry Blackshear, Jr., Florida +10000
- Devon Dotson, Kansas +10000
- Josh Green, Arizona +10000
- Ashton Hagans, Kentucky +10000
- Cassius Stanley, Duke +10000
- Joel Ayayi, Gonzaga +10000
- Zeke Nnaji, Arizona +10000
- Jordan Nwora, Louisville +10000
- Mamadi Diakite, Virginia +15000
- Payton Pritchard, Oregon +15000
- Filip Petrusev, Gonzaga +15000
- Tre Jones, Duke +20000
- Xavier Tillman, Michigan State +20000
- Luka Garza, Iowa +20000
- Udoka Azubuike, Kansas +30000
- Charles Bassey, Louisiana +30000
- Cassius Winston, Michigan State +30000
- Isaiah Joe, Arkansas +30000
- Paul Reed, DePaul +30000
Odds Subject to Change - Provided by FanDuel
T&C's Apply, 21+, Only in NJ, PA, IN, WV & CO
2020 NBA Draft Lottery
Since the NBA season remains on pause as of June 1, the league postponed the NBA Draft Lottery set to be held on May 19 and put the NBA Draft Combine on hold as well. Golden State, Cleveland and Minnesota had the three worst records when play was halted on March 11. Action should return on July 31 with 22 teams taking the court in Orlando. The lottery is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 25 and the new draft date has been set for Oct. 15.
NBA Draft Order Process
- All 14 NBA teams that miss the NBA Playoffs are eligible for the NBA Draft Lottery
- NBA teams with the worst record receive more chances (ping-pong balls) at winning a top-four selection
- Picks 1 through 4 of the NBA Draft are determined by drawing of the ping pong balls
- After the order of the top four teams are in place, the remaining lottery teams will fill into picks 5 through 14 by their record
- The 16 teams that made the NBA Playoffs will fill out the order of the NBA Draft first round
While picks Nos. 15-30 are determined by record, the top 14 selections are subject to the lottery process. Teams that fail to make the playoffs all have an opportunity to secure a top-four pick. Under the new system that debuted in 2019, the three teams with the worst records have an equal chance (14 percent) to secure the top pick through 140 ping-pong ball combinations. The 14th-ranked team has just five, giving them a 0.5 percent chance.
NBA Draft History No. 1 Picks
Betting on the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft doesn't always produce the greatest returns since the top prospect from the college and international ranks has been determined prior to the NBA Draft Lottery.
In 2019, Zion Williamson from Duke was considered a no-brainer to go No. 1 before the New Orleans Pelicans won the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery. Williamson closed as a -2500 favorite and bettors wagering $100 on the standout would've won 40-cents.
NBA No. 1 Draft History (Odds)
- 2019 - Zion Williamson (-2500)
- 2018 - Deandre Ayton (-2500)
- 2017 - Markelle Fultz (-750)
- 2016 - Ben Simmons (-650)
- 2015 - Karl-Anthony Towns (-200)
- 2014 - Andrew Wiggins (-250)
- 2013 - Anthony Bennett (+500)
- 2012 - Anthony Davis (NA)
- 2011 - Kyrie Irving (NA)
- 2010 - John Wall (NA)
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