Oddsmakers Give Clues On Who Will Be Available For Pistons At No. 5 In NBA Draft

Written By Drew Ellis on May 18, 2022
NBA Draft Lottery

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On Tuesday night, the Detroit Pistons ran out of luck.

Detroit, having won the NBA Lottery a year prior, appeared to be in an advantageous position to secure a top pick in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft once more.

The hope of Pistons fans for Tuesday’s 2022 NBA Draft Lottery was simply to secure a top 3 spot, devoid of any greediness.

However, much to the disappointment of many fans, Detroit ended up with the No. 5 pick.

What can we expect from this intriguing landing spot for the Pistons? Which player should Michigan sports bettors focus on for the pick?

Orlando Magic win NBA Draft Lottery

On Tuesday night, the Orlando Magic emerged as the fortunate victor of the NBA Draft Lottery.

Orlando has been awarded the lottery honor for the fourth time ever.

Before Tuesday’s lottery, Orlando, Oklahoma City, Houston, and Detroit were all tied for the highest likelihood of winning the top pick.

Detroit somehow found itself in the most unfavorable position among the four teams.

This is how the lottery unfolded:

  1. The Orlando Magic basketball team.
  2. Oklahoma City Thunder is a professional basketball team.
  3. The Houston Rockets
  4. The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento.
  5. The team known as the Detroit Pistons.
  6. The Indiana Pacers
  7. The Portland Trail Blazers are a professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon.
  8. The Pelicans of New Orleans
  9. The team known as the San Antonio Spurs.
  10. The Washington Wizards
  11. The New York Knicks basketball team.
  12. The team known as the Oklahoma City Thunder.
  13. The team known as the Charlotte Hornets.
  14. The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team.

Jabari Smith Jr. favored to be top pick

Orlando has identified Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr. as the frontrunner to be chosen as the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, which is just over a month away on June 23rd.

Smith entered Tuesday as a -105 favorite according to BetMGM Michigan. However, after the lottery, DraftKings Sportsbook MI increased Smith’s odds to -125.

The momentum in this draft is being driven by forwards, with Chet Holmgren from Gonzaga (+150) and Paolo Banchero from Duke (+450) emerging as top contenders.

Currently at BetMGM, Smith is receiving 22.6% of the wagers and 24% of the handle in this market.

What can Pistons do at No. 5?

The Pistons had high hopes of securing one of the top three forwards in the draft.

If that doesn’t occur, Detroit might have to consider addressing a different position.

Purdue guard Jaden Ivey (+4000) and Kentucky guard Shaedon Sharpe (+5000) seem to be the top 5 players in this draft, in addition to the three forwards.

Detroit’s primary requirements include a dynamic forward capable of driving to the basket and proficient shooting options for increased reliability.

Last season, Ivey showcased his shooting skills by hitting 46% of his shots for Purdue, with an impressive 35.8% accuracy from behind the arc. The talented player also managed to rack up an average of 17.3 points per game for the Boilermakers. Surprisingly, in the No. 1 pick market at BetMGM, Ivey is currently receiving a significant 43% of the handle.

After completing high school in the fall, Sharpe joined the Kentucky program in January without setting foot on the floor. Although regarded as a top-tier athlete, Sharpe also carries a significant amount of risk.

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