Most Rockets fans have a preference by now. Who do DraftKing’s odds say the club will select third?
The NBA Finals are in full swing, and we all know what that means:
It’s time to think about the NBA Draft.
OK, fine. That’s not true for everyone, but for diehard fans of lottery teams, it’s hard not to look at the incoming draft class, watch the Finals, and ask yourself “Which of these guys can get us there?”
With the Rockets selecting third, they’ll have plenty of options. If you’re reading this, chances are you know that most observers have Paolo Banchero pegged as the presumptive favorite to suit up in Rockets Red next season.
If you didn’t, you probably stumbled onto our page looking for a website that tells you how to minimize your nightmares. Our apologies, it happens.
Banchero may look like the likely choice for the Rockets, but what do the betting odds say? Luckily, our friends at DraftKings have got the answers your looking for.
According to them, the odds of being selected first overall among remotely realistic candidates are as follows (get your full odds here):
Jabari Smith Jr.: -275
Chet Holmgren: +190
Paolo Banchero: +1500
Jaden Ivey: +10000
Shaedon Sharpe: +10000
At number two overall, the odds are:
Chet Holmgren: -275
Jabari Smith Jr.: +275
Paolo Banchero: +400
Jaden Ivey: +3000
Shaedon Sharpe: +6000
Keegan Murray: +10000
Finally, here’s how the odds look at Houston’s third overall spot:
Paolo Banchero: -500
Chet Holmgren: +700
Jaden Ivey: +750
Keegan Murray: +10000
Benedict Mathurin: +20000
As you can see, DraftKing agrees with the consensus: Banchero is likely to be a Rocket. With that said, for the responsible gambler, there are some interesting wagers to be made here.
Thunder General Manager Sam Presti is definitely a wild card. If you’ve got the risk appetite, a bet on Jaden Ivey going second overall could be worth your time. A $100 wager would pay out $3,100.
If you like those odds, you might want to consider a bet on Chet Holmgren to Houston. After all, the probability of Banchero landing there partly bakes Holmgren-to-OKC into itself as an inevitability. Betting $100 on Holmgren at third gets you an $800 payout.
Finally, if you’re feeling particularly frisky, bet on Shaedon Sharpe heading to the Thunder with the second pick. It’s improbable, but that’s what makes it a longshot bet. A $100 bet gets you a whopping $6,100 in the unlikely event that you win.
Of course, if you’re the safer type, bet on Banchero to the Rockets. Betting $100 gets you a payout of $120 if you win.
If that sounds like a lot of effort to make $20, we’re not going to argue.
Check out DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.
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