Identifying The Best Bet To Be The No. 1 Pick In The 2020 NBA Draft

• The 2020 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 25th. Although there’s a lot of uncertainty whether or not the 2019-2020 season will resume and this date is most likely flexible, the eligible prospects at the top of the list will remain constant, barring any major injury or scandal. 

• DraftKings is listing the following five players with the highest odds to be the No. 1 overall pick whenever the draft takes place: Anthony Edwards (+100), James Wiseman (+185), LaMelo Ball (+300), Deni Avdija (+500) and Obi Toppin (+650). 

• Even though the draft order is still unknown, let’s explore what each prospect brings to the table, note any concerns and identify the best bet to lock in while there’s still some upside built into the odds. 

Anthony Edwards

Age: 18, College: Georgia, Class: Freshman

Position: SG, Height: 6’5, Weight: 225 pounds

2019-2020 Stats: 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 33.0 minutes (32 GP)

Edwards entered the 2019-2020 college season as one of the top 2020 Draft prospects and delivered on the hype, averaging 19.1 points per game while creating numerous highlight reel plays, as seen above. Averaging 15.8 field goal attempts per game, he was UGA’s go-to scorer, but shot just 40.2% from the field and 29.4% from three-point range (72-of-245) as he adjusted to the college game and faced double-teams. Nonetheless, his upside is unquestionable and he already has an NBA frame despite the fact he's still a teenager.

James Wiseman

Age: 19, College: Memphis (left), Class: Freshman

Position: C, Height: 7’1, Weight: 240 pounds

2019-2020 Stats: 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 23.0 minutes (3 GP)

Although his collegiate career lasted only three games due to an NCAA suspension that led to him dropping out, Wiseman flashed his skills as a dominant low-post big man by averaging a double-double in just 23.0 minutes per contest at Memphis. While his game was probably best suited in the old NBA that didn’t favor perimeter shooting, he’s clearly the top center prospect in this class. 

LaMelo Ball

Age: 18, International: Illawara (NBL Australia)

Position: PG/SG, Height: 6’7, Weight: 181 pounds

2019-2020 Stats: 17.0 pounds, 7.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 31.3 minutes (12 GP)

While the Ball family is polarizing (to say the least), it’s pretty difficult to ignore how talented the youngest brother is. Unlike older brother Lonzo, LaMelo has been heralded for his wild range and high-volume shooting for years. However, as seen during his 12-game stint with Illawara of the NBL, he has the ability to grab rebounds and dish out assists as well. At 6’7 with ball-handling skills, he will likely be a point guard in the NBA, but his questionable decision-making and unbridled mentality on offense might create some concern leading up to the draft.

Deni Avdija

Age: 19, International: Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv (Euroleague)

Position: SF, Height: 6’9, Weight: 219 pounds

2019-2020 Stats: 4.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 14.3 minutes (26 GP)

Before we get to the positives, let’s quickly address the elephant in the room: Avdija simply didn’t play much for Maccabi Tel Aviv. He did, however, win the 2019 FIBA U20 European Championship MVP and has two years of experience for one of the best international teams in the world, as well as for the Israeli National Team. He is regarded to have gigantic upside on both ends of the floor, but it’s important to shut down comparisons to Luka Doncic, who was much more accomplished before coming over to the NBA. 

Obi Toppin

Age: 22, College: Dayton, Class: Sophomore (R)

Position: SF, Height: 6’9, Weight: 220 pounds

2019-2020 Stats: 20.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 31.6 minutes (31 GP)

Toppin might be the most NBA-ready player in this draft, but he’s 22 years old already. That might be a bit of a barrier for him, but it’s important to realize that he’s a polished player at the offensive end. While his defensive play could use a bit of work and will be an early liability against opposing NBA small forwards, Toppin might be the best bet in this class to make an instant impact in the scoring column due to his ability to play in the post, shoot from the mid-range and step back behind the three-point line. 

Best Bet

• According to current team records, the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks would have double-digit percent chances to land the No. 1 overall pick if the season didn’t continue. Although we don’t know the order yet, we can make a couple assumptions:

• The odds that any of those five teams (except the Pistons) would select a center is low. The Warriors’ style of play lends itself to a small-ball focus. Karl-Anthony Towns will man the position in Minnesota moving forward. The Cavaliers have Andre Drummond and too much frontcourt depth at the moment. The Hawks traded for Clint Capela. Unless the Pistons land the pick, it seems like Wiseman isn’t a likely option. 

• Avdija’s rawness will scare teams. When selecting with the top pick in any draft, teams usually draft who they believe is a rock-solid bet to become a future All-Star. While the international forward has some positive traits and is well-regarded across the scouting community, it’s difficult to envision his name being called first. 

• While Ball’s ability to distribute as more of a ball-handler will be an asset at the next level, he might not be a fit on any of the aforementioned teams (except the Pistons). The Warriors have Steph Curry. The Timberwolves have D’Angelo Russell. The Cavaliers have both Collin Sexton and Darius Garland. The Hawks have Trae Young. Therefore, it seems like it’s a relative longshot to presume that four of the five teams with the top odds to land the pick would select Ball. 

• That leaves Toppin and Edwards, both of which project to be instant contributors at the next level. Edwards, who is four years younger than Toppin, is the clear favorite for many reasons. As a combo guard with a developed NBA frame already, the former Georgia Bulldog fits onto all five rosters above and should be considered the top prospect in this draft. Most importantly, due to his age and current skills, he has plenty of room to grow and reach his ceiling. At +100, he’s the best bet, and now’s the perfect time to lock it in before it moves in the weeks leading up to the draft. Use our exclusive offer below to place the bet on DraftKings right now!

Note: The advice displayed above does not necessarily reflect the position of BetQL and is the original analysis of the author. Therefore, BetQL does not, under any circumstance, guarantee the outcome of this bet.