How To Bet on the 2024 NBA Draft: Bronny James & Zach Edey Predictions
Nick Galaida breaks down how to bet on the 2024 NBA Draft. Find out which team he thinks will select Bronny James, plus two more NBA Draft predictions. Get all of Nick’s picks, including more NBA player props, at ScoresandOdds.
Round 1 of the 2024 NBA Draft will begin Wednesday at 8:00 PM ET at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The event will be televised on both ABC and ESPN. The 2nd round will take place the following day, beginning at 4:00 PM ET and broadcast on ESPN.
The Atlanta Hawks own the No. 1 overall selection in this year’s lottery, followed by the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Detroit Pistons, to round out the top 5.
If looking for some NBA Draft props, I have three leans worth considering at online sportsbooks.
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2024 NBA Draft Props & Predictions
Which Team Will select Bronny James?
Despite a flurry of pre-draft reports suggesting that Bronny James might not end up playing with his dad as a rookie, it would be extremely surprising to see someone other than the Lakers end up with him. Though LeBron has walked back his comments to a degree about wanting to play with his son, there is still clearly a desire for him to be in the league and to be around his son as he gets acclimated to being a professional.
The Lakers don’t possess a great opportunity to select Bronny, assuming they don’t take him with the No. 17 overall selection. That being said, there are a number of options for them to trade up ahead of pick No. 55, if necessary, to pair Bronny with his father.
LeBron has significant pull within the NBA landscape. If he wants to play with his son (which seems to be the case), it seems more probable than not that the Lakers find a way to make it happen. This is great value, especially after the Lakers hired JJ Redick as their new head coach – all but guaranteeing that LeBron will be back with the team this upcoming season.
- PICK: Los Angeles Lakers (-135), DraftKings
Stephon Castle Over/Under 5.5 Draft Position
Heading into this year’s NBA Draft, few players project to have a higher floor than Stephon Castle. He is a 6’6’’, 210-pound guard who the Connecticut Huskies used in nearly every imaginable role this past season.
In the modern NBA, where both size and versatility are heavily prioritized by front office personnel and talent evaluators, it’s difficult to see Castle falling beyond the top 5. If he’s still on the board at No. 4, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see the San Antonio Spurs look to pair him with their rapidly emerging superstar, Victor Wembanyama.
Castle doesn’t yet have an elite shot from the perimeter, but his ability to contribute in many different areas of the game give him plenty of upside for whomever is lucky enough to select him.
- PICK: Castle UNDER 5.5 Draft Position (-148), FanDuel
Zach Edey Over/Under 15.5 Draft Position
As a senior at Purdue, Zach Edey averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. According to the USA Today, he became the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1960 to lead the country in scoring and make the Final Four.
Though his college accolades are no doubt impressive, he isn’t a lock to experience a seamless transition to the NBA stage. His 7’4’’, 300-pound frame makes him one of the more physically imposing prospects in this year’s draft, but the league’s quick pace and smaller lineups, on average, don’t give him an immediate path to stardom.
Thus, it’s doubtful that a team in the lottery will be willing to pull the trigger on him. Look for him to be selected near the end of the 1st round, where he can complement a team as a productive role player in specific matchups.
- PICK: Edey OVER 15.5 Draft Position (+106), FanDuel
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