Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren and Paulo Banchero are the consensus top-three prospects in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft.
And the entire trio saw a movement in their respective prices to go off the board No. 1 after the Orlando Magic won the lottery Tuesday night.
2022 NBA Draft No. 1 Overall Pick Odds
via BetMGM
| Player | Previous Odds | Current Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Jabari Smith | -105 | -125 |
| Chet Holmgren | +145 | +155 |
| Paulo Banchero | +300 | +500 |
Smith left Auburn after one season that saw him post 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He also has a sweet stroke from beyond the arc, posting a sleek 42% clip from 3-point land.
Orlando's a team in desperate need of high-upside players, and Smith — who's 6-foot-10 and just 19 years old — certainly fits the bill.
However, Action Network's Brandon Anderson firmly believes the betting value lies with Holmgren, who would reunite with former Gonzaga standout Jalen Suggs.
"Smith is an easier face of the franchise for a team that badly needs one, and he’d fill a big scoring hole on the wing for Orlando. But the Magic have tended to gamble on size and upside.
John Hammond, remember, is the General Manager who drafted Giannis Antetokounmpo. He took a shot on Thon Maker, Jonathan Isaac, and Mo Bamba too, all in the lottery. Holmgren fits the bill as another long, gangling, upside plays loaded with potential."
Banchero, meanwhile, was the biggest loser in the lottery process, dropping from +300 to +500.
The former No. 4 recruit in the ESPN Top 100 did a little bit of everything for Duke en route to the Final Four, compiling 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
Jaden Ivey (+3500) and Shaedon Sharpe (+8000) round out the top-five betting candidates for No. 1 overall, though at extremely long prices.
