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It’s only been one week, but there’s been plenty of movement in the top 10 odds to go No. 1 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. The one constant is Anthony Edwards at the top. The Georgia guard continues to put up numbers on a bad team in the SEC. He scored 32 points in a tough loss to Florida last Wednesday, then followed that up with a 14-12-4 line in an OT loss to Alabama. The Bulldogs aren’t going anywhere but maybe the NIT this season, but Edwards continues to flash his nutty athleticism and rebounding prowess at the guard position.
Last week, Edwards was tied by James Wiseman at +125 for the best odds to go first in the draft. Now, that has changed dramatically. Deni Avdija, a combo guard/forward in the EuroLeague, has skyrocketed from +3000 to +200 to be selected first. This likely has something to do with the rise of Luka Doncic for the Mavericks. GMs are seeing how well European players are translating to the NBA nowadays and are getting ahead of other teams.
If you watch Avdija highlights it’s like a spitting image of Doncic. A lengthy big who can bring the ball up, run the floor, score off the dribble and hit long-range shots. I think where Avdija has an edge on Doncic is his defense, which is very solid for somebody so young playing in a tough professional league overseas. I think teams like the Hawks and Warriors would be enamored at adding a player like Avdija — someone who is essentially position-less in the best way possible.
2020 NBA Draft: Updated No. 1 Pick Odds
Player | Position | Team | Odds |
---|---|---|---|
Player | Position | Team | Odds |
Anthony Edwards | SG | Georgia | +125 |
Deni Avdija | G/F | Maccabi Tel Aviv (Euro) | +200 |
LaMelo Ball | PG | Illawara Hawks (NBL) | +200 |
Tyrese Haliburton | G | Iowa State | +300 |
Isaac Okoro | G/F | Auburn | +350 |
James Wiseman | C | N/A | +400 |
Jaden McDaniels | F | Washington | +750 |
Cole Anthony | G | North Carolina | +800 |
Obi Toppin | F | Dayton | +900 |
Killian Hayes | G | Ulm (Bundesliga) | +1000 |
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