Most NBA bettors are solely focused on the postseason, especially Nuggets odds. Nevertheless, the draft is less than a month away — with some betting markets already taking shape. Let’s dig into Pistons’ odds for the fifth overall selection, examining if any of those 2023 NBA Draft odds are valuable.
Click on any of the NBA draft odds below to place a wager.
NBA Draft Odds: Pistons’ No. 5 Pick
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Cam Whitmore “Steam” Emerges
Shortly after the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery concluded on May 16, a handful of online betting sites began taking bets on which player Detroit would nab in the first round. Whitmore, the one-time Villanova Wildcat, initially opened around +440, equivalent to the fourth-shortest odds behind each Thompson and Walker.
That said, his price tag has since dipped to as low as +215, per the betting table above. As of Wednesday, Whitmore possesses the lowest odds on the board at FanDuel Sportsbook. Standing at nearly 6-foot-6, 235 pounds with a 6-foot-8.5 wingspan, his athleticism was on full display at the combine in Chicago.
Generally speaking, sportsbooks tend to deviate away from larger limits on NBA draft odds. Assessing whether the Whitmore movement is mere speculation or a product of valuable information is an arduous task. But Pistons general manager Troy Weaver & Co. are clearly searching for wing or four-man. Whitmore certainly fits one of those roles.
Related: After Paolo Banchero Odds Debacle, Will Sportsbooks Adjust Strategy?
There’s also Houston product Jarace Walker, who delivered the highest combine score among any player at the draft combine. The 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward scored in the 86th percentile or above in all of the vertical and agility drills.
Walker’s borderline elite two-way ceiling may be more of a “need” if Detroit aims to start Killian Hayes, Jaden Ivey, and Cade Cunningham alongside one another, plus Jalen Duren or James Wiseman at center.
Additionally, the notion that Whitmore is the favorite to land with the Pistons may have created a valuable position on Walker at +320 (24.4% implied probability). For context, he’s set at +215 at Caesars.
I’ll gather more intel from sources in the coming weeks. That helped us cash a trio of bets in the last year’s draft. Follow TheLines on Twitter for more updates.
How to Watch 2023 NBA Draft
The NBA draft will begin at approximately 8 p.m. EST on June 22. ABC and ESPN will both air the first round while the second round will only be shown on ESPN. You can also stream the entire draft on ESPN.com or the ESPN app.
NBA Draft Odds: Sports Betting Promos
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