NBA betting: Needs for teams with short odds in the NBA Draft Lottery
For fans of NBA teams not in the playoffs, the NBA Draft lottery can't come soon enough. And while oddsmakers have an idea of how the draft order will play out, some teams are still hoping for all the help they can get snagging one of the top prospects.
DraftKings lists the Detroit Pistons as the +550 favorites to be awarded the first overall pick in the lottery, which is no surprise since they only won 14 games this season and clearly need to beef up their roster. However, there are a few other teams with slightly longer odds that would really benefit from drafting their first choice — and some of them have very different needs than others.
Here's a look at what those teams with short odds need.
The Washington Wizards are also priced at +550 at DK to get the No. 1 overall pick in the lottery, and this team hasn't won a playoff round since 2017 and has missed the second season completely in five of the last six years. A big reason for that is that their starting point guard is Jordan Poole — whose big playoff run for the Golden State Warriors is far in the rearview mirror — and starting center Marvin Bagley III was constantly injured. An obvious solution would be to draft center Alexandre Sarr, who NBA.com says is "starting to look like the best bet to help change a team’s identity and upside." If Washington is awarded the No. 1 overall pick, they could select Sarr and pick from the point guard market in free agency.
The Portland Trail Blazers and Charlotte Hornets are both listed at +600 to land the No. 1 overall pick, and these rosters have different needs. Portland had difficulties this season staying healthy at the forward position, so SF/PF Cody Williams has been tapped as a player that could help them out even though his full potential has arguably not been tapped yet. Charlotte could also benefit from drafting Williams, who Give Me Sport says "could fit in cleanly between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller," but their biggest need is a big man. If the Hornets pick after No. 1 and Sarr is off the board, UConn center Donavan Clingan would be a good option.
Rounding out the list of top teams to potentially land the No. 1 overall pick is the San Antonio Spurs (+750) and the Toronto Raptors (+900). Yes, the Spurs had the first pick last year, but they clearly need to get Victor Wembenyama some help and everyone from Sarr to Clingan to Serbian point guard Nikola Topic would be an improvement. The Raptors have just as many holes in their lineup but could potentially get the biggest boost from drafting a guard, and For The Win likes Kentucky product Rob Dillingham.
"Although the Raptors recently traded for Immanuel Quickley and he has been a great acquisition for them, he may not be the franchise point guard of the future for Toronto," FTW explains. "With Dillingham, you are getting a point guard that could comfortably score 20-plus points a night after he gets adjusted to the league and be a playmaker for teammates. The talented lead guard consistently creates advantages on the offensive end and would be instant offense for the Raptors."
The NBA Draft lottery takes place on May 12, and the 2024 NBA Draft will be held on June 26. Check back in to see the odds for who the No. 1 overall pick will be following the lottery.
More must-reads: