NBA Draft Predictions & Expert Picks: Which Players Could Go in the 1st 10 Picks?

The 2024 NBA Draft has been called one of the worst in recent memory, adding to the unpredictability. We look at our favorite bets for Wednesday's first round.

Rob Paul

Last Updated: June 26, 2024 11:11 AM EDT • 5 minute read

Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht makes a layup against Purdue guard Braden Smith during the second half of the NCAA tournament Elite 8 round at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. We look at Knecht in our NBA Draft Predictions. — Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht makes a layup against Purdue guard Braden Smith during the second half of the NCAA tournament Elite 8 round at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Photo by Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn.

The 2024 NBA Draft begins Wednesday with the first round, and we're making our NBA Draft predictions and expert picks based on the best NBA odds.

The 2024 NBA Draft hasn't even begun and there's already been a major move in the league with the Brooklyn Nets shipping Mikal Bridges off to the New York Knicks for a plethora of picks.

So while this draft may be regarded one of the worst in league history, there should still be plenty of buzz on Wednesday as it gets underway at 8 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN) from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The rumors have been non-stop despite the NBA draft odds having a clear front-runner for the top pick in Zaccharie Risacher. But how could the rest of the top 10 play out? And who will help their NBA championship odds the most?

NBA draft expert picks

Pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale; odds via our best NBA betting sites.

Stephon Castle drafted Over 5.5 (+120 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐
Devin Carter to be drafted top 10 (-140 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dalton Knecht to be drafted top five (+450 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐
Cody Williams drafted Under 8.5 (-115 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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NBA draft player props

Stephon Castle drafted Over 5.5 ⭐⭐⭐

No player in this draft class better exemplifies its unpredictability than Castle. The combo guard out of UConn was integral to the Huskies' NCAA Tournament run and was a five-star recruit that blossomed by the end of the season.

But there are concerns about where he fits in at the next level as a guard that shot just 26.7% from behind the arc. It's also been made clear he wants to play point guard in the NBA after turning down workouts with teams that have proven lead guards.

It seems unlikely Castle goes top three, and the Detroit Pistons, who pick fifth, have an established point guard. That leaves only the San Antonio Spurs, whom I think would take Reed Sheppard if he's there or trade for a veteran guard. These odds imply a 45.45% win probability with a $10 bet paying out $22.

Best odds: +120 via BetMGM

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Devin Carter to be drafted top 10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My guess for who will become your favorite player's favorite player from this draft is Carter. The Big East Player of the Year this past season didn't get quite the same level of love as some of the other top players in the country because Providence missed the NCAA Tournament.

However, he's getting the attention he deserves now thanks to his dominance at the NBA Draft Combine. He broke the combine record with a 2.87 three-quarter sprint and led both vertical jumps. Not only did he average 19.7 PPG and shoot 37.7% from three for the Friars, but he was also a lockdown defender.

Normally I wouldn't love how short these odds are, but they're an outlier price with this prop sitting around -180 at our other best books. Those odds imply a 64.29% win probability, but ours pay a $7.14 profit on a $10 bet.

Best odds: -140 via FanDuel

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Dalton Knecht to be drafted top five ⭐⭐

If you're not into how short those odds are on Carter, do I have a bet for you. This is a swing for the fences with the Pistons in mind. Tennessee's Dalton Knecht was arguably the most prolific scorer in college basketball last season putting up 21.7 PPG and shooting 39.7% from three.

While we know older prospects do get dinged - Knecht is already 23 - the instant offense he could provide as a two-guard will certainly have teams infatuated. Most draftniks think he's going top 10, but could the Pistons get bold at five? Or would someone move up for him?

It's worth noting that Knecht was unstoppable in two NCAA Tournament games on the Pistons' home court at Little Caesars Arena. He dropped 26 against Creighton and 37 against Purdue there. These odds only imply an 18.18% win probability, but a $10 winning bet pays a $45 profit.

Best odds: +450 via BetMGM

Cody Williams drafted Under 8.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Much like Carter, Cody Williams is another player who is easy to gain appreciation for the more you watch him. He's a 3-and-D rockstar waiting to happen with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and a smooth shooting stroke, hitting 41.5% of his threes as a freshman at Colorado.

Another important factor is that his brother is Jalen Williams, who went 12th to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2022 and has become one of the best young players in the league. And as we know, the NBA values bloodlines - Bronny James is going to be drafted purely based on them!

I think Williams could easily go anywhere from five to eight on Wednesday with the Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers, and Spurs all in need of a player like him. These odds imply a 53.49% probability he goes top eight with a $10 bet paying out $18.70.

Best odds: -115 via DraftKings

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NBA draft player props made Tuesday at 11:05 a.m. ET.

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Written by:
Rob Paul

Rob is a Publishing Editor at Sportsbook Review. He’s been with the team since early 2024, with this being his first full-time role in the sports betting industry. Before joining SportsbookReview.com, he contributed to various sports outlets, including FanSided and Pro Football Network. During that period, he spent five years working full-time as a local community journalist, after attending Durham College for journalism and Wilfrid Laurier University for history. He previously hosted an NFL draft and college football-focused podcast where he had the opportunity to interact with future NFL players such as Maxx Crosby and Quinn Meinerz. Rob has spent multiple years working as a freelance podcast producer for numerous sports-related podcasts while making guest appearances on several college football shows. He’s also made guest appearances on SportsTalk Mississippi on several occasions to talk all things NFL draft. Rob values the way sports betting acts as a catalyst for telling stories and growing interest in certain sports, particularly FCS football, WNBA, and mid-major college basketball. He’s always been drawn to the more obscure teams and conferences in major college sports, but most of all, Rob loves using stats to find the best player props to back.