NBA Draft Team Picks: Who Will Be A Top 3 Pick?

Wembanyama, Lock for Top Spot

Will Scoot Slide Down the Board?

 

As the NBA regular season comes to a close many non-playoff teams (and their fans) can begin planning their NBA Draft Team Picks. Many scouts consider this the deepest draft in recent history, with most lottery prospects having the potential to alter an NBA team’s future.

Victor Wembenyama is the undeniable top pick, as reflected by his -8000 odds to go as the 1st Overall Pick. Behind him though is a ton of high-end talent, which has provided some strong betting opportunities that represent good market value.

Scoot Henderson from the G-League Ignite is widely regarded as the number two prospect in the draft and had it not been for the generational talents of Wembenyama he would often be a consensus pick to go number one. That being said, it’s not exactly a foregone conclusion that he will go 2nd Overall despite being listed as -325 favorite to do so.

Henderson will very likely be the face of the franchise wherever he lands and his high upside talents make him a ‘safe bet’ for teams who land a top three pick. The concern for him is who lands the number two pick, which in turn could open up a path for various other avenues to be explored.

The Detroit Pistons currently own a share of the top lottery odds and that’s one team that could very well pass on Scoot knowing they have a franchise talent point guard in Cade Cunningham. The team also drafted Jaden Ivey as a top-5 pick last year and that could have them exploring other options should they land the #2 pick.

Another team who could pole vault into the number two slot is the Charlotte Hornets, who are led by All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball. They too could be tempted to take a gamble on some of the top wing talent on offer to better compliment the current face of their franchise.

The final team that could pass on Henderson should they move up in the lottery are the Portland Trail Blazers. The team seemingly wasted a career-year from All-Star guard Damian Lillard and passing on Henderson in favor of more complimentary pieces around Lillard is something that’s certainly in the realms of possibility.

Who Could Make the Jump?

 

If not Scoot, then who?

Alabama’s Brandon Miller currently projects to go at number three, but he is someone that teams could very much take as the 2nd Overall Pick.

Miller is currently +250 to go as the 2nd Overall Pick and there’s some genuine value to be had there given what he brings to the table and his appeal to teams trying to fill their wing positions with top-tier talent. He averaged 18.8 points per game at Alabama and shot 38% from 3-point range on 7.5 attempts per game.

His combination of size and athleticism make him a tough assignment for opposing defenses, while his length and awareness make him a good prospect on defense as well. Many Mock Drafts and Big Board ratings have him as the number two prospect in the draft so his current odds make him a valuable bet, especially when factoring in the potential teams that would prefer a two-way wing should they land that #2 spot.

Who Goes Next?

 

Two other prospects garnering plenty of attention are Amen & Ausar Thompson. The twins are currently playing in the Overtime Elite league and both have received lavish praise in their growth and maturity over the past six months.

Amen Thompson projects to be the first of the twins to be selected, with his explosive athleticism and high IQ putting him at the forefront of conversation for many lottery teams. Amen’s passing and playmaking in the half-court make him a very intriguing prospect and his high upside is what has him currently priced at +260 to go 3rd Overall Pick.

Ausar Thompson is equally quick, but has some more defensive upside and someone who can wreak havoc in the open court. Much like his brother, his 3-point shot hasn’t matured but his work ethic and shooting form should be encouraging signs for NBA teams that can help him develop into a consistent jump shooter.

Ausar is currently +500 to go 3rd Overall Pick in the upcoming draft and he’s someone who could see their odds shorten significantly after the draft combo is done.

A lot will naturally depend on fit and what teams land a top-5 pick, which is something that many teams are currently angling for – as evident in the NBA spreads over the closing days of the regular NBA season.

Be sure to keep an eye on the NBA latest scores to finish the season and see what teams project to land around that number three pick to help find some value on a very open market.

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