While bettors are honed in on NBA Finals odds, we’re less than two weeks away from the draft. To get a sense of where the top prospects are projected to land, I’ve compiled the betting odds for the first 10 picks in this NBA mock draft. You’ll also find prices for players to go inside the top five and top-10 selections. Let’s examine the biggest storylines surrounding these NBA draft odds at DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook.
As forecasted by the betting market, Duke product Cooper Flagg is assured to hear his name called first in the draft by the Mavericks. Rutgers guard Dylan Harper should go second overall, but the third pick is where rumors are beginning to swirl.
With Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George headlining the 76ers’ roster, Philadelphia could look to bolster its backcourt with Maxey or tack on a versatile four-man in 6-foot-7 forward Ace Bailey. When sportsbooks initially posted NBA draft odds in early May, Bailey was set at +105 to be taken with the third overall pick. Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe was in the +130 range.
Nevertheless, the 76ers recently hosted Edgecombe for a private workout, indicating that Philly may have more interest in the 6-foot-5, 180-pound guard. As of this publication, Edgecombe has leapfrogged Bailey as the -125 favorite for this pick.
By converting those odds to implied probability, there’s a 55.6% chance Edgecombe is gone by the third selection. Elsewhere, Bailey is +230 among No. 3 pick odds, equivalent to a 30.3% implied probability. Some draft pundits have pegged Bailey as the next Kevin Durant. Others cite his inability to help propel Rutgers to the NCAA tournament as a reason for concern. As a result, Bailey could fall as low as No. 6 overall to the Washington Wizards.
There’s also a scenario that Philadelphia opts to trade back in the draft, with New Orleans reportedly interested in snagging Bailey.
NBA Mock Draft Odds: Daryl Morey’s Dark Horse Candidate?
Texas guard Tre Johnson, whose odds for this pick have shrunk from +850 to as low as +275, has quietly been mocked to the 76ers as well. The 6-foot-6 freshman exhibited his dynamic playmaking in isolation sets while shooting 39.7% from behind the arc.
Johnson’s efficiency is even more notable considering he faced the Big 12’s physical competition on a nightly basis. When evaluating Philly’s options, 76ers president Daryl Morey noted that the organization is targeting a “high upside player that we feel can also contribute right away is a big deal.” Between the three prospects often linked to Philadelphia, Johnson best fits this description.
Eli Hershkovich is a content editor for Catena Media. He’s been gambling for over a decade. His goal is to provide you with data and market insight to help lead you to winning bets. Eli specializes in college basketball, NFL, MLB, and the sports gambling landscape. He's most well-known for his futures bets on the hardwood. Three seasons ago, he cashed his 50-1 UConn ticket. He still hasn’t forgiven Virginia (and the refs) for ruining his 100-1 Texas Tech futures in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
