By Kenny Burgess
The 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY on Thursday, Jun. 22 and it could prove to be one of the most entertaining nights on the NBA calendar. There has been a lot of speculation about some of the NBA teams inside of the top five moving their picks and this has muddied the waters a bit, but all we can do is look at the odds now and assume the teams hold onto their respective picks.
San Antonio Spurs – No. 1 Pick Odds
Victor Wembanyama: -10000
Sterling “Scoot” Henderson: +3300
Brandon Miller: +8000
The draft and the intrigue will truly start after the first pick. Victor Wembanyama is the top prospect on everyone’s board and is being regarded as one of the best the sport has ever seen. Wembanyama averaged 21.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and three blocks per game for Metropolitans 92 in France’s LNB Pro A league this season. The French native has a one-of-a-kind build as he stands at 7’4’’ and has such a unique skill set for someone at his size. In Jeremy Woo’s Sports Illustrated cover story on Wembanyama, he described him as “a gargantuan perimeter player who can handle, pass, and shoot like a guard, but also patrols the paint true to size.”
Final Pick: Victor Wembanyama -10000
Charlotte Hornets – No. 2 Pick Odds
Scoot Henderson: -225
Brandon Miller: +150
Amen Thompson: +3300
Once Wembanyama is off the board, the next two prospects are close and people have been back and forth on who will go next. While Charlotte is happy with having the number two selection, it has one of the toughest decisions in the draft. Just last week, Miller was a -225 favorite to go second while Scoot Henderson was available at +138. Now, it’s Henderson who’s -225 to go No. 2 while Miller moved to +150. This line movement is partially due to the buzz that the Pelicans may try to move up to the second spot with their eyes on Henderson. It’s also possible that no deal materializes, and if the Hornets stay put at No. 2, it’s been reported they prefer Miller which makes me like his value at +150 here.
Final Pick: Brandon Miller +150
Portland Trail Blazers – No. 3 Pick Odds
Brandon Miller: -225
Scoot Henderson: +140
Amen Thompson: +1200
Obviously, the shift at the No. 2 spot has caused movement at the No. 3 selection. Miller was previously +110 to go second and he’s now at -225. Henderson was available at -200 last week and is now +140. Damien Lillard has told the Trail Blazers brass that he wants to stay in Portland, but he prefers them to move this pick for a star who is ready to help them win now. Regardless of who ends up with the pick, the No. 3 selection will probably come down to who is left between Miller and Henderson.
Final Picks: Scoot Henderson +140
Houston Rockets – No. 4 Pick Odds
Amen Thompson: -175
Cam Whitmore: +160
Ausar Thompson: +500
Amen Thompson has become an even heavier favorite to hear his name called fourth as his odds moved from -150 to -175. While Amen’s twin brother Ausar isn’t far behind, experts believe Amen will have his name called before his brother. Amen is seen as more of a facilitator, and scouts feel like his best attributes are his playmaking and defense. His passing and defense would seemingly fit well alongside Jalen Green’s self-creation and shooting, making Houston a nice landing spot for him.
Final Pick: Amen Thompson -175
Detroit Pistons – No. 5 Pick Odds
Cam Whitmore: +120
Jarace Walker: +250
Ausar Thompson: +300
Amen Thompson: +450
Experts like the Big East Freshman of the Year to go with the fifth pick. Cam Whitmore was one and done at Villanova and many scouts see him as an NBA-ready player. Whitmore is built like a linebacker and his athleticism is off the charts — he’s an elite downhill scorer and with his 40 1/2-inch vertical/ 6-foot-8 1/2 wingspan, he’s projected to be a good on-ball defender. Whitmore also seems like the right fit for Detroit as it has invested three top-10 picks into its backcourt in the last three drafts, so it would make sense for the Pistons to go with a forward.
Final Pick: Cam Whitmore +120
Photo credit: Victor Wembanyama’s Instagram
