Once again, the Detroit Pistons were nowhere near making the NBA Playoffs last season. There is a silver lining to that cloud, though.
On Thursday night, they will pick early in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. Michigan’s sports betting apps have odds listed for a variety of NBA Draft markets, including who will go at No. 5 in the draft, which is where the Pistons make their first pick.
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Mock drafts have mentioned several players going at No. 5, but there is one name that shows up more than the rest.
NBA Draft Odds: The No. 5 Pick
Here is a look at the players near the top of the odds boards to be the No. 5 overall pick. Check out each sportsbook for a complete list that has plenty of long shots. Odds are current as of Tuesday, June 21:
| Player | DraftKings | Caesars | BetRivers | FanDuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keegan Murray, Iowa | -175 | -120 | +105 | -105 |
| Jaden Ivey, Purdue | +350 | +350 | +250 | +200 |
| Shaedon Sharpe, Kentucky | +550 | +250 | +350 | +750 |
| Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona | +650 | +1000 | +650 | +700 |
| Dyson Daniels, G League | +800 | +1600 | +1200 | +1800 |
| A.J. Griffin, Duke | +2000 | +3500 | +5500 | +5500 |
| Paolo Banchero, Duke | +2500 | +4000 | +7500 | +9500 |
| Jalen Duren, Memphis | +3000 | +4000 | +6500 | +8000 |
| Johnny Davis, Wisconsin | +4000 | +4000 | +6500 | +8000 |
The odds reflect how many mock drafts have predicted things will go Thursday night. In the NBA.com’s consensus mock draft, the order at the top is Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero, and Jaden Ivey going No. 1, 2, 3, and 4. But the picks are less certain from that point on, starting with the No. 5 pick.
Six mocks have Iowa’s Keegan Murray going at No. 5. However, four have the Pacers taking him with the No. 6 pick. The other players predicted to go No. 5 are Arizona’s Bennedict Mathurin, Kentucky’s Shadeon Sharpe, Purdue’s Jaden Ivey, and the NBA G League’s Dyson Daniels. Sharpe is the only player other than Murray predicted to go No. 5 in multiple mocks (three).
Detroit has held pre-draft workouts with Murray, Sharpe, Daniels, Mathurin, and Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis.
Projected top-10 pick Keegan Murray reflects on his basketball journey, reveals his Rookie of the Year goals, and more as he eagerly awaits hearing his name called at the 2024 NBA Draft. @Jeep pic.twitter.com/7KATDQ4hjJ
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 20, 2024
Betting Analysis: Three Players To Stay Away From; Three To Bet On
If the Pistons had a lottery pick (No. 1-4), it would not be hard to figure out who the advisable bets are. Smith, Holmgren, and Banchero are considered the best players in the draft this year. It would be surprising if one of them made it to No. 4, but it would be shocking if one were to slide to No. 5.
Of course, off-the-wall picks happen, but bettors should be more concerned about the Pistons trading up or down. There is a lot of trade speculation surrounding Jerami Grant, which could impact where Detroit picks. But more than likely, the Pistons will be on the clock at No.5.
As for who may be available at No. 5, the most common names mentioned in the media are Ivey, Murray, and Sharpe.
There is a good chance Ivey will not be available when the Pistons are on the clock. Ivey is considered one of the best players in the draft outside of Smith, Holmgren, and Banchero. Sacramento will probably take him with the No. 4 pick. However, while he may be the best player available at No. 4, the Kings already have a solid backcourt.
Many believe Murray is one the most NBA-ready players in the draft. However, he’ll be 22 when the season begins. According to a Dartmouth study, players peak around the age of 27. Knowing this, it may be better to go with a 20- or 19-year-old, making Sharpe an intriguing prospect.
Sharpe’s size, speed, and athleticism helped make him the No. 3 recruit in the country last year. But he never ended up playing for Kentucky last season. Some college tape would have made it easier to judge whether his skill set will translate to the NBA or not.
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
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