In his one and only season of college basketball last year, Deandre Ayton averaged 20.1 points per game and 11.6 rebounds per game. The 7’1 prospect will in all likelihood be the first overall pick when the 2018 NBA Draft gets underway Thursday night.
NBA Draft odds 2018: Deandre Ayton leads draft class as the first overall betting favorite
While Deandre Ayton is a virtual lock to be the first overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft, the rest of the board is open with sportsbooks setting plenty of props for Thursday night.
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Deandre Ayton is a massive favorite at -1500 to be the first overall pick in the NBA Draft at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Even if for some unforeseeable reason the Phoenix Suns decide to go a different direction, they’d have no trouble trading the rights to another team to draft Ayton first overall. In addition to being 7’1 and an incredibly gifted athlete, Ayton has shown his commitment to improving this offseason in adding muscle and working on his long-range jumper. The 19-year-old looks like a can’t miss prospect for the Suns to build their future around.
After Ayton is off the board, things get quite a bit more hazy. Luka Doncic is going off at +175 to be drafted second or better on the 2018 NBA Draft props board and -220 to fall to third or lower. The Real Madrid product is considered by many to be the best player available in this draft after leading the Spanish club to a league championship last year and collecting awards as season and Final Four MVP.
Of course, European players are more difficult to scout and determine if they are a good fit for the NBA than many college players are, so the Sacramento Kings may talk themselves into another option instead.
This is why Marvin Bagley III may be one of the best bets on the board to be drafted third or better despite the expensive price of -350 (fourth or lower would pay +260). Bagley III averaged 21 points per game and 11.1 rebounds per game for Duke this year and looks extremely pro ready. If Sacramento wants to go with the safest option and the highest floor, they may opt for Bagley over Doncic. If they do pass on Bagley, the Atlanta Hawks would likely be thrilled to take him at No. 3.
Other intriguing player lines include Jaren Jackson Jr. (drafted third or better at +120, fourth or worse at -150), Michael Porter Jr. (sixth or better at -150, seventh or worse at +120) and Trae Young (seventh or better at -140, eighth or worse at +110).
For more odds information, betting picks, and a breakdown of this week’s top sports betting news check out the OddsShark podcast with Jon Campbell and Andrew Avery. Subscribe on iTunes or listen to it at OddsShark.libsyn.com.
