2023 NBA Draft Best Bets: Odds, Picks & Predictions
The NBA Draft is this Thursday, and Victor Wembenyama is guaranteed to go first overall. While there is no way the Spurs don’t take Wembenyama, there is also no reason to bet on him to be the first pick. At DraftKings, the current odds for this to happen are -20000 (at FanDuel, he’s -50000). That means you’d have to bet $20,000 or $50,000 to win $100. This is a lock, but is it really worth that kind of risk?
So, when looking at both likelihood and value, what are the best bets for the 2023 NBA Draft? Below are our top three picks.
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Best 2023 NBA Draft Bets
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook
First Three Picks Exact Order: Wembenyama, Miller, Henderson (+115)
We all know Wembenyama is going No. 1 overall, so that gives part of this bet already. Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller will be the next two players picked, it’s just a matter of what order the two players go in.
The Charlotte Hornets own the second pick, but will they be the team making the pick when the time comes? With the pieces they currently have, Brandon Miller makes more sense for them. But if they end up getting a solid trade offer, it’s hard to imagine them passing up a proven NBA star for an unknown.
The New Orleans Pelicans are reported as the team with the most interest in trading into the top three to get Henderson. But will they make that trade with the Hornets, or will they try to make it with the Blazers in hopes that the Hornets take Miller anyway?
There are a lot of what-ifs going into the second and third picks, but I’m going to say that the Hornets stick with their spot, take Miller, and then no matter what team picks third, they take Henderson. This a slight underdog play, so the price is better than even money. It feels like there are a lot of scenarios in play for picks two and three, but this is what we like best.
Jarace Walker No. 7 Overall Pick (+175)
For a while, it looked like Walker was going to be a top-five pick. Now, he could fall entirely out of the top 10. Walker doesn’t have an overwhelming amount of upside on the offensive end, but he is great defensively. The question is, will a team with a lottery pick be willing to take a chance on a player with his skillset?
With it looking like Walker will probably fall out of the top five, the next place we see him being picked is at No. 7 by the Pacers. With Walker, the Pacers would have a physical frontcourt that would all but neutralize their opponent’s interior offense.
At +175, this is a really good price for Walker to go at seven. If you want to hedge, his odds to go at No. 10 (to the Mavericks) are +2200, and his odds to go in the top five are +440. Those are the three likeliest scenarios for Walker, and there is a way to play all three and ensure you come out as a winner.
Bilal Coulibaly Top 10 Pick (+400)
How much will NBA teams respect Coulibaly’s individual game, and how much will they credit his success to having Wembenyama on his team? The attention garnered by Wembenyama has helped Coulibaly attract some eyeballs, which could land him as a top-10 pick in the draft.
Most experts are predicting him to go somewhere between No. 9 and No. 13, but it seems like teams are more intrigued by him now than they were a few weeks ago. Aside from his impressive talent, Coulibaly is only 18 years old. If he pans out, he could be a franchise player for over a decade.
The price on this is fantastic, especially with how up in the air the back half of the top 10 is.
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Phil Wood is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Phil, check out his archive and follow him @Phil_Wood_Jr.