NBA draft odds: James Wiseman still co-favorite for No. 1 pick
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When standout center James Wiseman enters the NBA draft next June, he will have played exactly three games of high-level basketball since leaving high school. Oddsmakers think he's as good of a bet as any to be selected No. 1 overall.
Wiseman's short-lived stint at Memphis ended this week when he announced he'd withdrawn from the university and signed with an agent, ending his tumultuous time in college that saw a suspension for violating NCAA rules. He's still +125 to go first in June's draft, tied with Georgia's Anthony Edwards for the top spot on the oddsboard.
Wiseman entered the season as a near-consensus top pick in a relatively light draft class, and he'll likely still be seen as a unanimous top-three prospect entering combine season. At 7-foot-1 and 240 pounds, Wiseman has the frame and skill set of a franchise center, and his tools on both sides of the floor suggest the type of upside draftniks crave.
Still, he has three major concerns working against him as the top pick in this draft, which could make him a shaky bet at short odds.
For one, the biggest knock on him at this stage is his inconsistent, sometimes absent play relative to his superior physical gifts. A full year dominating in college could have assuaged those concerns, but now Wiseman will have to convince team officials he has an NBA-level motor with only workouts and high school tape to prove it.
Recent history also isn't kind to players who miss a significant portion of the season before the draft. Kyrie Irving famously went No. 1 in 2011 despite just 11 games at Duke, but elite high school prospects Michael Porter Jr. and Bol Bol both suffered substantial draft slips after missing much of their freshman years. Those were all injury-related - Wiseman's absence is not, and there's less precedent for how this could affect him, but it's still a potential concern.
Lastly, there are legitimate questions about whether using the top pick on a traditional center is the right play in today's NBA. Last year's rookie class saw Luka Doncic (No. 3) and Trae Young (No. 5) blossom into superstars while Deandre Ayton (No. 1) and Marvin Bagley (No. 2) have struggled to make the same impact. His size is tantalizing, but undersized bigs like John Collins and Brandon Clarke have broken through that mold to become steals in recent draft classes.
If a book knocks Wiseman too aggressively for missing the year, certainly take advantage. There isn't enough evidence to suggest he'd slip to, say, fifth or sixth in a light class, and with such a shallow group up top, he is as good a bet as any. Just not at short odds.
Speaking of that group up top, here are the odds to be picked No. 1 overall (among those shorter than 50-1), with five other candidates to consider outside of Wiseman:
| PLAYER | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Anthony Edwards | 5-4 |
| James Wiseman | 5-4 |
| Cole Anthony | 7-2 |
| LaMelo Ball | 7-2 |
| Obi Toppin | 6-1 |
| Tyrese Haliburton | 20-1 |
| Isaiah Stewart | 25-1 |
| R.J. Hampton | 25-1 |
| Precious Achiuwa | 30-1 |
| Theo Maledon | 30-1 |
| Vernon Carey | 30-1 |
| Deni Avdija | 40-1 |
| Jaden McDaniels | 40-1 |
| Nico Mannion | 40-1 |
Anthony Edwards (5-4)
While Wiseman entered the year as the most popular top prospect on draft boards, Edwards has emerged as the "consensus" choice thanks to a strong athletic build for a modern wing and an eye-popping performance against Michigan State that hinted at his NBA scoring potential. He's undoubtedly raw, but he'll be one of the youngest prospects in this class and teases the type of upside that can drive a player to the top of the draft.
Cole Anthony (7-2)
Anthony, the son of former NBA player Greg Anthony, is one of the more polished players in this draft class. When he's on, his shot creation and smooth stroke look right at home on an NBA floor, and his defensive motor has drawn praise from North Carolina coach Roy Williams. His frame has led to struggles scoring inside, though, and a knee injury could raise red flags come draft time. He's probably a stay-away at this price.
LaMelo Ball (7-2)
Remember when Ball was more of a punchline than a legitimate prospect? Since then, Ball has flashed high-upside shooting and superb vision in Australia, and he has as much momentum as any prospect to rise to the No. 1 spot. Think Lonzo Ball with a better shot, better offensive feel, and worse defense. The comparisons will be inevitable, and Lonzo's relatively underwhelming NBA career thus far could keep LaMelo from snagging the top spot.
Tyrese Haliburton (20-1)
Haliburton is skyrocketing up draft boards after a quiet freshman year as a role player at Iowa State. This year, he's emerged as one of the best players in college basketball. Is he a fluke? His advanced stats suggest he was one of the most valuable players in the NCAA a year ago despite a low usage. If he can continue to perform as his usage increases, he could be a sneaky bet to rise in a light crop.
Jaden McDaniels (40-1)
All three of the players priced at 40-1 are wildly undervalued - betting all three for a 40-3 (+1333) payout isn't a bad call with how muddled this class is. If the team with the top pick wants to go big, and is scared off by Wiseman, Washington's McDaniels offers arguably the most upside, and the promising play of 76ers rookie Matisse Thybulle could bode well for another rangy Mike Hopkins-coached prospect.
C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.