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While this year’s NBA Draft does not have the allure of some recent drafts, especially the Victor Wembanyama-led 2023 class, plenty of high-value bets can keep us glued to the edge of our seats.
Our best bets for the 2024 two-day event are below, including a surprise underdog to be selected first overall by the Atlanta Hawks (odds via FanDuel).
2024 NBA Draft best bets
First overall pick (Atlanta): Donovan Clingan (+270)
With Alex Sarr (+700 to go No. 1) presumably forcing his way to Washington, the Hawks will be deciding between Zaccharie Risacher (-250) and Clingan. Despite being an underdog to be selected first overall, Clingan seems to be the more likely choice for Atlanta.
Clint Capela’s days are numbered in Atlanta, and the Hawks will want to make a few changes before the season starts, as the current roster has not yielded desirable results. Clingan is a more well-rounded and coordinated version of Rudy Gobert, which would be a match made in Heaven with Quin Snyder, who used to coach Gobert in Utah.
If anyone knows how to get the most out of a player like Clingan, particularly on the defensive end of the floor, it would be Snyder. Clingan’s prowess in dribble handoffs and a pro-style offense allow Snyder to mix it up on the other end of the floor, too.
Ultimately, Atlanta has yet to commit to a complete rebuild, and Risacher is still too raw and risky of a prospect to select with the first pick, especially if the Hawks believe they should still be in win-now mode.
Ninth overall pick (Memphis): Zach Edey (+1400)
Without Steve Adams, the Grizzlies plummeted from the top rebounding team in the league to an average one.
Memphis has explored deploying Jaren Jackson Jr. at the five, but he’s naturally a power forward and is a better secondary rebounder than someone the Grizzlies want to rely on to pull down double-digit boards each night.
In 2021-22, when Adams played 76 games, the Grizzlies ranked first in net rebounding. It was the same story in 2022-23 until Adams suffered an injury in late January. The Grizzlies were again the NBA’s net rebounding leader from the beginning of that season until Adams hurt his knee. However, after his injury, Memphis ranked just 21st in net rebounding.
Edey’s interior presence on both ends of the floor and his elite screen-setting and space-clearing are all needed for a Memphis team that struggles in the halfcourt.
Even with Providence guard Devin Carter (+350) being the favorite to go No. 9 overall, don’t be shocked to see Memphis pull the trigger on Edey, as trading back would be risky. Other teams are interested in the Purdue center toward the back end of the lottery.
13th overall pick (Sacramento): Kel’el Ware (+1800)
Sarr and Clingan are set to be two of the top three picks, and if the Grizzlies snag Edey at No. 9, Ware would be the next-best center available. At 7 feet and a near-7-5 wingspan, he displayed elite rim protection at Indiana and an impressive stroke from 3-point land, shooting 42.5% on the season.
Ware’s ability to consistently finish inside and stretch the floor would fit nicely with the Kings, especially since they have an extremely thin frontcourt. Furthermore, Domantas Sabonis is a complete non-threat as a rim protector, so having Ware back Sabonis up will help the Kings’ interior defense, which has struggled the past few seasons.
Ware’s straight-line, rim-running speed is another aspect of his game that Sacramento would covet. The Kings like to push the ball with De’Aaron Fox whenever they can, and Ware will draw defenders from out-running opposing bigs down the floor, leading to open 3s for perimeter players.
This fits nicely into the Kings’ win-now timeline. Firming up their frontcourt will be another step closer to getting them back toward the top of the West.
