ROTY Gambling Picks – NBA Odds
The 2013 NBA draft class isn’t getting nearly as much respect as last year’s group did entering the Association.
That said, there’s a handful of players who will help their teams right away, making a name for themselves in Rookie of the Year voting in the process. Odds from [dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′].
Michael Carter Williams—Philadelphia 76ers
Michael Carter Williams has the luxury of being the starting point guard on a bad team. No, he won’t win a lot of games during the 2013-14 season, but he will absolutely earn playing time, possibly becoming one of the most productive players on the team.
Philly has a good plan mapped out for the future, and this kid will be a part of it when they turn things around.
Odds: 9/1
Kelly Olynyk—Boston Celtics
Like Michael Carter Williams, Kelly Olynyk will benefit from being drafted by a rebuilding organization. He’s going to earn time on the floor, and he’s going to put his athleticism and shooting ability on full display. The problem is that he must adjust to the NBA quickly if he’s going to avoid being called a bust.
The game is about to get much more physical for him, and he has to find a way to balance playing down low and out on the perimeter.
Odds: 9/1
Ben McLemore—Sacramento Kings
Ben McLemore was one of the surprises of the draft, but in the sense that he slipped when he was once looked at as a potential No. 2 pick. McLemore has an incredible knack for scoring the basketball. The Sacramento Kings have traded away Tyreke Evans, which will give him an opportunity to dominate the ball as a rookie.
The problem is that he’s playing for a dysfunctional organization that has had trouble taming players in the past, and he must overcome those obstacles to be recognized on a national level.
Odds: 15/2
Cody Zeller—Charlotte Bobcats
As good as Cody Zeller proved to be during his time at Indiana, the consensus was that the Charlotte Bobcats reached when they took the big man fourth overall. Zeller comes in at No. 2 on this list, but the offseason acquisition of Al Jefferson may impact his placement in the end. [ad-6571516]
Jefferson will be the team’s No. 1 option in the post, leaving Zeller to play cleanup.
Odds: 5/1
Victor Oladipo—Orlando Magic
Victor Oladipo has a good chance to go down as the only star of the 2013 draft class. The wing player out of Indiana is an excellent two-way presence who can impact both sides of the floor. He’s insanely athletic, can finish above the rim and is a menacing presence when it comes to perimeter defense.
His points-per-game average might not be the highest amongst this year’s rookies, but he has a good chance to have the biggest impact on his team.
Odds: 7/4
2014 NBA Rookie of the Year Prediction
One of the most interesting parts about predicting this year’s Rookie of the Year is that three of the top five players chosen are not top five in the odds.
Anthony Bennett (No. 1), Otto Porter (No. 3) and Alex Len (No. 5) are all absent for a variety of reasons. But while the list is missing a number of big names, it has the right players on board, seeing as they are the ones who will make the biggest difference out of the gate.
At this point, you have to go with the favorite. Victor Oladipo is on a bad team that needs production, and he’s one of the few perimeter players on the roster who can truly get it done on both ends of the floor.
