Anthony Edwards favored to go No. 1 despite LaMelo Ball rumors
FILE — FEBRUARY 19: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Georgia Bulldogs is introduced prior to a game against the Auburn Tigers at Stegeman Coliseum on February 19, 2020 in Athens, Georgia. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP
Georgia guard Anthony Edwards remains the heavy betting favorite to go No. 1 overall in next week’s NBA Draft.
Edwards is being offered at -175 by William Hill and -215 by DraftKings. That’s well ahead of LaMelo Ball (+200, +171) despite rumors that NBA scouts weren’t enamored with Edwards’ pro day workout.
According to a report by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony on Monday, most NBA teams are working under “the assumption” that Ball will either go No. 1 overall to Minnesota or a team the Timberwolves trade the pick to.
The Golden State Warriors hold the No. 2 pick and are expected to select the player available between Edwards and Ball or Memphis center James Wiseman. Wiseman is being offered at +350 by William Hill and +750 by DraftKings, with no other player listed with shorter than +2500 odds at either book.
The Charlotte Hornets currently hold the No. 3 pick, followed by the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers.
DraftKings has set the over/under on Anthony Edwards’ draft position at 1.5, with Ball and Wiseman each at 2.5. Dayton’s Obi Toppin’s over/under is set at 4.5.
Among the sportsbook’s other prop bets is who the New York Knicks will select with the eighth pick.
Iowa State guard Tyrese Haliburton currently leads those odds at +300, followed by France’s Killian Hayes (+350), Auburn’s Isaac Okoro (+550), Florida State’s Devin Vassell (+600) and USC center Onyeka Okongwu (+700).
Other props at DraftKings include over/under 4.5 freshmen being selected in the top 10 and over/under 3.5 international players going within the first 10 picks.
The 2020 NBA Draft will be conducted on Nov. 18 via videoconferencing from ESPN’s facilities in Bristol, Conn.
