OKBET SPORT BETTING NEWS – NBA ODDS
Since the season officially ended with the Golden State Warriors winning the 2021-22 NBA Finals, basketball has been calling for more action. Luckily, fans can look forward to his 2022 NBA Draft and who will be the first pick this week.
Last year, Cade Cunningham was drafted No. 1 overall by the Detroit Pistons. Fast forward to 2022 and the Orlando Magic will be the first team to win his lotto in this year’s draft.
Magic has an exciting and up-and-coming team that can make a real difference to this year’s class. We won’t know who they’re picking until NBA Commissioner Adam Silver makes the announcement, but the FanDuel Sportsbook’s 2022 draft odds help shed some light on where Orlando could go.
2022 NBA Draft: Okbet Odds to Be Drafted No. 1 Overall
- Jabari Smith – Forward (Auburn) -240
- Paolo Banchero – Forward (Duke) +240
- Chet Holmgren – Center (Gonzaga) +380
- Shaedon Sharpe – Guard (Kentucky) +20000
- Jaden Ivey – Guard (Purdue) +20000
- Keegan Murray – Forward (Iowa) +20000
- Johnny Davis — Guard (Wisconsin) +20000
- Dyson Daniels — Guard (G-League Ignite) +20000
- A.J. Griffin — Forward (Duke) +20000
- Bennedict Mathurin — Guard (Arizona) +20000
- Jalen Duren — Center (Memphis) +20000
Odds by FanDuel on Wednesday 22nd June.
It’s becoming a two-way race as to who will pick the Magic first in the 2022 NBA Draft, but for now, -200 odds give Auburn’s Jabari Smith a slight edge.
The 6-foot-10-inch, 220-pound forward did not disappoint in his first and only season with the Tigers. As a freshman, Smith led the team with 16.9 points per game and finished second in Auburn with 7.4 rebounds.
Smith can be an inside threat, but he’s also shown the ability to speak out. He averaged 2.3 successful 3-pointers on 5.5 attempts and converted at a .420 rate. Pair him with Franz He Wagner, who is 6-foot-9, and Orlando becomes a big, sharp-shooting duo that can give opponents a nasty headache.
Another thing the scouts love about Smith’s game is that he’s a solid defender who can defend almost any position. His post defense could use some refinement, but there’s no reason he couldn’t improve over time.
2022 NBA Draft analyst Mike Schmitz reported in May that “most NBA teams” were under the impression that the Magic would pick Smith as his No. 1 pick. Plans are subject to change, but where there’s fire, there’s usually smoke.
Still, Magic never fails to portray Smith. They already have a solid collection of guards and can bring the best to the fore in the draft.
Chet Holmgren, C, Gonzaga (+175)
Gonzaga’s Chet his Holmgren is another viable option if the Magic is targeting the No. 1 big man overall.
The Minneapolis, Minnesota native is a top his center contender in the 2022 NBA Draft and has all the tools to contribute day in and day out.
Holmgren averaged nearly a double-double in his freshman year in 2021-22, averaging 14.1 points and his 9.9 rebounds, his highest in the West Coast in his conference. He also led the conference in blocks per game (3.7), win rate (6.3) and true shooting rate (0.691).
Although he can’t stretch the ground as well as Smith, Holmgren averaged 1.3 threes while shooting . It will be interesting to see if he can continue this trend in the NBA.
The Magic still have Wendell with Carter Jr. plus he’s on a four-season deal, but his pivotal rotation from Holmgren could be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come. .
Paolo Banchero, F, Duke (+1100)
The only other prospect with “realistic” odds of picking the first pick in the 2022 NBA Draft is Duke forward Paolo Banchero at +1100.
Another 6-foot-10, Banchero led the Blue Devils in points (17.2) and rebounds (7.8) in his first year. He also averaged 3.2 assists and his 1.1 steals and finished his year with .478/.338/.729 shooting his split. He’s one of those players who could make the transition to the NBA easier due to his solid strength and great athleticism. He also has decent ball-handling skills and a fadeaway jumper that can catch many off guard.
Banchero has a lot of work to do to improve his defense and his control of the ball. He’s had 11 turnovers in his college career, at least his four, and it could hurt him if he continues like this in his professional career.
Still, there’s no doubt about Banchero’s elite potential. He may not be endorsed as the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, but that doesn’t mean the Magic aren’t considering him, at least for a while.
