Table of Contents

2020 NBA Draft Odds, Predictions: Anthony Edwards the Favorite, but LaMelo Ball Can Move Up

Author: americangambler | Last Updated: October 14, 2020

Few things are certain about the 2020-21 NBA season as things stand. Fans are yet to receive a firm start date, there are question marks over whether fans will be allowed to attend games, and numerous franchises are in the dark regarding their salary cap space.

What is certain is the 2020 NBA Draft will take place on Wednesday, November 18, at which point a fresh class of future Championship contenders will enter the professional ring. This will mark the first time since 1975 that the Draft won’t take place in June, just one of the many disruptions to have affected the sports world due to the coronavirus.

Despite the delays, Anthony Edwards remains the hot favorite to go first off the board, listed at -134 with Unibet in New Jersey. The Minnesota Timberwolves drew the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft lottery and could be expected to move for the former Georgia Bulldog as odds favorite, but it’s the name just below Edwards who could be taken off the top.

2020 NBA Draft Info

Date: Wednesday, November 18

Venue: ESPN Studios, Bristol, Connecticut

TV Info: ESPN

Live Stream: Watch ESPN

NBA Draft 2020 Preview

LaMelo Ball—priced at +150 betting odds to go first—has been hyped like few other prospects in this year’s Draft, though he’s been helped in that sense by exposure from his family name and having already played professional ball with the Illawarra Hawks in Australia.

The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie recently told NBL Overtime he felt the Timberwolves were ready to go with Ball as the top selection, citing his NBA-ready quality as being the difference-maker:

.@TheAthleticNBA's @Sam_Vecenie joined #NBLOvertime to break down LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton's pre-draft standing and where he thinks they'll be taken in the 2020 NBA Draft 👀

Catch the full show here: https://t.co/RcLfuSqCTl pic.twitter.com/ksuGM8rQHK
— NBL (@NBL) September 29, 2020

Only a handful of names are realistically linked with the No. 1 pick depending on what the Timberwolves decide is their greatest need, with +450 James Wiseman the only other player expected to challenge Edwards and Ball.

This is considered to be the most unpredictable NBA Draft in a number of years regarding the No. 1 pick, though the quality of 6’11” Karl-Anthony Towns suggests the Timberwolves may well move past Wiseman as a possibility. That leaves the natural assumption it’ll be either Edwards or Ball, and provided Minnesota don’t trade away from No. 1, the latter offers that extra incentive in offensive upside having already gained key pro experience.

However, William Hill also offer New Jersey, Illinois and Colorado customers prop bets on how many college freshmen will make up the top 10 picked players. Odds of +294 are available on there being five or more, or -385 on there to be fewer than five.

Prediction: Timberwolves to pick LaMelo Ball No. 1 overall