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. With the 2020 NBA season ending recently in October in the NBA Bubble from Orlando, Florida, the league announced that the 2020 NBA Draft will be held virtually on Wednesday, Nov. 18 and produced out of the ESPN studios in Bristol, Connecticut. 
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is expected to announce the 2020 NBA Draft on Nov. 18 in a virtual format. (AP) Per the NBA, league Commissioner Adam Silver and Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum will appear in studio at ESPN to announce the selections for the first and second rounds, respectively. Unfortunately, no players will be in the studio but select draftees, including many of the potential top picks, will appear virtually. Who will be the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft?The Minnesota Timberwolves won the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery and they'll have the top overall pick in the first round. After the T-Wolves, the Golden State Warriors and Charlotte Hornets will pick second and third in the 2020 NBA Draft. Most pundits believe the top pick will be one of three players, two of them guards and one big man. No. 1 Draft Pick - Top 3 Contenders Odds
Anthony Edwards of Georgia is the top betting choice at DraftKings as the odds have been flipped and LaMelo Ball, an 18-year-old prospect, has been made the second-betting favorite. A lot of pundits believe both players can help the Minnesota Timberwolves. II a team in search of a wing lands the top pick, 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. Meanwhile, Ball has long been regarded as the top prospect in his basketball family and he did nothing to diminish his stock in Australia. Blessed with great length and natural ball-handling skills similar to his older brother in the NBA (New Orleans Pelicans) 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. Memphis 7-foot-1 center James Wiseman would be a nice piece for the team that has everything else and that's why he's included in this trio of contenders. 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. Make a note that 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. 2020 NBA Draft - No. 1 Overall Pick OddsListed below are all of the players available in the Top Pick betting market at DraftKings.
2020 NBA Draft - No. 2 Overall Pick OddsListed below are all of the players available to be drafted second in the betting market at DraftKings.
Odds Subject to Change - Updated Wed, Nov. 18, 7:00 a.m. ET 2020 NBA Draft Contenders to Watch - Long ShotsAfter the three contenders above DraftKings has over 50 players listed from 100/1 to 1000/1 odds to be the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. If you're looking for a surprise, then it will likely be one of these players below: Obi Toppin (100/1)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 (500/1)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 (200/1)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. Cole Anthony (500/1)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 (300/1)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. Odds Subject to Change - Provided by DraftKings 2020 NBA Draft Lottery Order
NBA Draft Order Process
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 PicksBetting 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)
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