in NBA Props
NBA Draft Odds - Picking the Top 10
by Charles Jay
The NBA Draft is coming up on June 25, and you can contact BetUS Sportsbook about special NBA Draft Odds and props. They have released some of them already, and we're going to analyze them in the way of presenting what, in effect, is a mock draft of the first ten picks.
And away we go....
Who will the Clippers pick at number 1?
* Blake Griffin 1/20
* Anyone Else 10/1
This would appear a fait accompli; the only thing that could scuttle it is if a team came with an offer that was too hard to pass up; perhaps one that would allow the Clippers to dump Baron Davis' salary and still offer an opportunity to come away with either a point guard or power forward. Failing that, however, Mike Dunleavy has already indicated that Griffin will be the pick. GRIFFIN (1/20)
Who will the Grizzlies take at number 2?
* Hasheem Thabeet 5/4
* Ricky Rubio 7/4
* Brandon Jennings 8/1
* Jordan Hill 9/1
* James Harden 6/1
* Anyone else 12/1
The situation is relatively cut and dried - Thabeet is far and away the choice of Grizzlies' owner Michael Heisley, while the "basketball people" around him all prefer Rubio, presumably so they could have someone good to feed the ball to O.J. Mayo. Or at least they preferred him until he failed to impress at a playoff game in Spain where everyone made the trip. Maybe they’re not so sure now. Marc Gasol, Pau's brother, made that trip over to Spain to act as an interpreter; I think he also hopes they'll draft Rubio, because he'd be relegated to a backup center role if Thabeet is the choice. I think the owner will win out, and the fact that Rubio is not crazy about the prospect of playing in Memphis will reinforce that decision. THABEET (5/4)
Who will the Thunder pick at number 3?
* Ricky Rubio 5/4
* Hasheem Thabeet 7/4
* Brandon Jennings 15/2
* James Harden 4/1
* Demar DeRozan 10/1
* Anyone else 15/1
If Thabeet is available, this should be a no-brainer for the people with the Thunder, who were frustrated in their attempts to secure Tyson Chandler last season (the trade was reversed). Oklahoma City needs a center to anchor the defense. That doesn't exist right now. When you talk about Rubio and Jennings, you're talking redundancy, as this team used a very high pick last year to draft Russell Westbrook, who can dish, score, and has the added attraction of being able to play defense. I'll go with a darkhorse of sorts here, as James Harden is an ideal complement to both Westbrook and Kevin Durant. He potentially gives them great scoring balance, and they can use a two-guard with his size. HARDEN (4/1)
Who will the Kings pick at number 4?
* James Harden 7/2
* Hasheem Thabeet 5/1
* Ricky Rubio 8/1
* Jrue Holiday 4/1
* Jordan Hill 5/2
* Brandon Jennings 11/2
* Anyone else 6/1
To me, this would be the spot for Rubio, because he would make a nice duo with Kevin Martin, the Kings' highly underrated scoring machine. Rubio is not a very good shooter, but he has great instincts with the ball, and looks a little like Pete Maravich at times. This would also give the Kings great size in the backcourt. Remember how excited they were to have Jason Williams, at least for a while? Well, this guy brings a more well-rounded package. RUBIO (8/1)
Who will the Wizards pick at number 5?
* Brandon Jennings 6/1
* Jordan Hill 3/1
* James Harden 5/2
* Demar DeRozan 9/2
* Stephen Curry 8/1
* Tyreke Evans 5/1
* Anyone else 5/1
I know Jordan Hill would seem like a good pick here, but I think you want starter in this spot, and who is he going to dislodge? Not Antawn Jamison and not Caron Butler. Sure they could use more size, but I think the Wizards like JaVale McGee as a guy who could be a defensive eraser at center. The guy who might fit well here is Tyreke Evans, a 6'6" guard who took over the point at Memphis midway through the season, after which the Tigers did not lose until the NCAA tournament. He has to cut his turnovers and improve his outside shot, but he gives Washington a guy with size who can handle the ball, which allows Gilbert Arenas to be a shooting guard and not have to worry about distributing all that much. EVANS (5/1)
Who will the Timberwolves pick at number 6?
* Demar DeRozan 9/4
* James Harden 7/2
* Tyreke Evans 4/1
* Brandon Jennings 6/1
* Jordan Hill 5/1
* Stephen Curry 7/1
* Anyone else 6/1
Minnesota has to be happy with front line players Al Jefferson and Kevin Love, but I can see the Wolves shopping for a point guard. Brandon Jennings is the guy a lot of people a lot of people had been touting as a possible top-three pick, and he was certainly among the top three high school prospects for college before he bolted for Italy. He's had a trying year in Europe, but you have to remember that the level of play over there is generally better than you'll get in college ball. JENNINGS (6/1)
Who will the Warriors pick at number 7?
* Brandon Jennings 11/4
* Tyreke Evans 7/2
* Stephen Curry 4/1
* Demar DeRozan 5/1
* James Harden 8/1
* Anyone else 6/1
The Warriors always need size, but Don Nelson never seems interested in going after it. I will say this much - the Monta Ellis experiment at point guard didn't work, and Nellie could sure use someone to run his offense. Stephen Curry assumed the point guard duties in his junior season at Davidson and gave every indication that he has as much court vision as anyone in this draft. He moves without the ball better than anyone as well, and his shooting range is unlimited. He's good kid and very unselfish. He also can be equally adept in the half-court and fast break. Frankly, I think he's the best player in the draft. CURRY (4/1)
Who will the Knicks pick at number 8?
* Stephen Curry 2/1
* Demar DeRozan 2/1
* Tyreke Evans 5/1
* DeJuan Blair 7/1
* Ty Lawson 9/1
* Earl Clark 10/1
* Anyone else 9/2
The Knicks are going to be upset because they coveted Curry. But he'll be gone, and Mike D'Antoni would really love to have a point guard who can dive into his "Eight Seconds or Less" attack. That's why it would not surprise me one bit to see him grab Ty Lawson, who may be the nation's fastest player from one end of the court to the other. LAWSON (9/1)
Who will the Raptors pick at number 9?
* Stephen Curry 5/1
* Demar DeRozan 4/1
* DeJuan Blair 7/2
* Jrue Holiday 9/2
* Gerald Henderson 6/1
* Earl Clark 8/1
* James Johnson 7/1
* Anyone else 11/2
Shawn Marion is an unrestricted free agent. The Raptors can use a center too, as Jermaine O'Neal went off in that trade for Marion. But a guy like B.J. Mullens would be a bit of a stretch here, so I'm figuring it's between the versatile Earl Clark and Demar DeRozan, with DeRozan getting the nod because he is probably more athletic and can perhaps occupy a backcourt position for them. The only question is - do the Raptors have to sign Master P's son too? DeROZAN (4/1)
Who will the Bucks pick at number 10?
* Jrue Holiday 5/2
* DeJuan Blair 7/2
* James Johnson 5/1
* Gerald Henderson 4/1
* Earl Clark 6/1
* Chase Budinger 9/1
* Anyone else 9/2
What Milwaukee needs, besides a dynamic point guard, is a guy who can really provide some muscle to complement Andrew Bogut. DeJuan Blair would be a possibility here, but he's only 6'7". It's quite possible that Jordan Hill (a legit 6'10") will fall to this spot, and if that's the case, he'd fit the bill. Even if the Bucks went after somebody like Jonny Flynn, we can be covered here. ANYONE ELSE (9/2)
