NBA Rookie of the Year: LaMelo Ball is Still a Valuable Bet

Despite being sidelined with an injury, bet Ball to take home ROY

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The NBA Rookie of the Year race went from being a landslide to a compelling race after it was announced that standout rookie LaMelo Ball fractured his right wrist on March 21st. 

The injury opened the door for the likes of Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton to make a run at the award. 

Here are the odds as of Monday afternoon, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

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Edwards has pushed forward as the favorite with about a month remaining in the season.

While his efficiency numbers aren’t near where they need to be for him to blossom into a true star, the No. 1 pick is scoring in bunches. Since the beginning of March, Edwards is averaging 23 points and over five rebounds on 43/32/78 shooting splits. 

Minnesota is nowhere near the playoff hunt, but Edwards has provided a handful of highlight reel plays. 

The other rookie who has seen his odds shrink is Haliburton. Less flashy than Edwards, the Iowa State product has shown glimpses of promise while producing on both ends for the Sacramento Kings.

He is averaging 13 points and five assists while shooting 47% from the field, 41% from beyond the arc and 86% from the free throw line.

Similar to Minnesota, Sacramento is struggling this season. Yes, Haliburton has cemented himself as a foundational piece to the roster, but the team is 22-31 and three games out of the final play-in game spot. 

Team success is how Ball figures into this debate. While Rookie of the Year is not intertwined with team success, like MVP is, it helps the Hornets guard that Charlotte has been firmly in the hunt for hosting a playoff series this season.

The Hornets offense is scoring more than three points per 100 possessions with Ball on the floor, in the 72nd percentile of the league, per CTG. It’s worth mentioning that Charlotte’s defense slips with him on the floor, allowing more than four points per 100 possessions more on the defensive end. 

Either way, Ball was a shoe in for this award. Since the injury, Edwards and Haliburton have been able to build a case, but it still may not be enough.

Even though the cast was still on his right wrist, Ball was doing some on court work with his left hand.

After undergoing surgery, Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak said that Ball could return before the end of the season. 

“We don’t know if LaMelo is out for the season or not,” Kupchak said on March 26. “There is a possibility (of Ball playing again), just based on other players who have had this injury, that maybe he does come back for some portion of the year.”

If Ball comes back for any amount of time, I believe he ends up taking home the award. Even though he has played in 41 games, I don’t think Edwards or Haliburton have done enough to separate themselves from Ball, who was clearly the Rookie of the Year before the injury. 

It doesn't hurt that Hornets beat reporter Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer did a straw poll of potential voters over the weekend for the award. Despite missing time, Ball was still in first amongst the sample.

At +215, it is worth a flier on Ball to hang on to the award. If he is able to return -- and things are heading in a positive direction on that front -- this becomes Ball’s award again. 

Pick: LaMelo Ball +215

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