A major swing occurred overnight in sportsbooks across the country, according to Matt Moore of Action Network, who tweets that every book with odds available for the No. 1 overall pick now lists Duke’s Paolo Banchero as the favorite to come off the board first.
It’s a fascinating turn of events with the draft just hours away, though it’s hard to ascertain what exactly it means. Do those oddsmakers know something about the Magic‘s plans that the general public doesn’t? Did some bettors swing the odds by placing significant wagers on Banchero, either because they have inside info or because they want to create more favorable odds for subsequent bets on Jabari Smith? Could a trade involving the top pick be in the works?
Most NBA reporters and draft experts have stated for weeks that it would be a surprise for anyone besides Smith to go to Orlando at No. 1. However, he’s far from the lock that recent first overall picks like Cade Cunningham and Zion Williamson have been. This 11th-hour swing in betting odds only adds more intrigue to the top of tonight’s draft.
Here’s more on the 2022 NBA draft:
- The Pacers, Jazz, Celtics, and Pistons are among the teams believed to be looking into acquiring a pick in the back half of the first round, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report. Boston seems open to discussing young rotation players like Grant Williams and Payton Pritchard in those talks, Fischer adds.
- The latest round-up of draft-related intel from Jeremy Woo of SI.com includes notes on Shaedon Sharpe, who continues to be linked to the Trail Blazers at No. 7; the Sixers‘ No. 23 pick, which rival teams believe will be dealt; and the list of teams thought to have interest in acquiring a second-round pick, which includes the Lakers, Jazz, Mavericks, Suns, Nets, and Heat.
- Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said on Wednesday his team is “super open” to trading the No. 19 overall pick, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link). “We’ve had countless conversations about using that pick to add a more quickly impactful piece,” Connelly said. “But 99% of these conversations are just theoretical.”
For anyone that thought it was a longshot for Paolo to go #1 based on what reporters and bloggers were saying, I promise there’s a lesson to be learned here. Watch these games for yourself. This stuff is not hard to see when you watch these guys play. Actual games, not just highlights or basketball reference. Orlando needs a guy like Paolo way more than a guy like Jabari or Chet or Ivey
Mr Hermoine at it again.
I agree Banchero should be the number 1 pick. But I got no dog in this fight so I don’t really care, but I am interested to watch it unfold.
Same
Actually if people actually understands what rebuild means which obviously is teams picking 1-5 when you have the top pick and the worst team or one of the worst teams you have to 100% draft best available regardless fit and position. If the 76ers drafted for fit then in 2014 they’d have drafted exum or Gordon but they drafted best available. Fit can be fixed later the teams picking for fit never works out look at the suns they lost luka/Trae young because of fit. Celtics drafted back to back SF players with brown and tatum which brown can play SG but that wasn’t an ideal fit. The cavs drafted garland even though Saxton was there pg and was considered one if the best young PGs now they have an even better PG
Jabari Smith was best available they should have drafted him. He can play both sides of the ball score and defend we never will know who’s the best for certain because busts are in every draft and any pick 1-5 is a risk and not a sure thing but in that moment you need to go best available
“A major swing occurred overnight in sportsbooks across the country, according to Matt Moore of Action Network, who tweets that every book with odds available for the No. 1 overall pick now lists Duke’s Paolo Banchero as the favorite to come off the board first.”
Not suspicious at all…
But anyway, I’m not sure why folks assume the bettor masses must know something than everyone else doesn’t. That’s like assuming folks who play the stock market know what they are doing. Sure, the smart and dedicated minority do, but the bulk of folks have no idea what they’re doing.
Masses are probably not behind this, the oddsmakers are. Did you quit reading after that quote-block.
I think GM Weltman is yanking chains with leaks.