Now that the Boston Celtics have won their record 18th NBA title, we have officially arrived at the offseason. It's headlined by the draft – which takes place next Thursday and Friday (June 26-27). The Atlanta Hawks control the top of the board with the No. 1 overall pick, followed by the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons.
However, there is plenty of uncertainty, and trades could shake up the current pecking order. Let’s break down the best bets to make before the 2024 NBA Draft.
- Alex Sarr to be the No. 1 pick (+120)
- Stephon Castle Draft Position Under 5.5 (-130)
- Los Angeles Lakers to Select Bronny James (+150)
Sarr should be the choice at the top
The Hawks’ front office has been a disaster over the past few years, trying to surround Trae Young with the necessary parts to achieve success. They can’t afford to make another one, and the biggest one would be passing on Sarr if he becomes a future star. The 19-year-old Frenchman isn’t a lock to be a perennial all-star, but neither is anyone else in this class. Sarr is already a defensive force at 7’0’’, which is exactly what Atlanta needs.
After the lottery took place last month, Sarr was a big favorite to go No. 1, and he was still -210 as recently as two weeks ago. Fellow Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher has gained a lot of traction along with former UConn big man Donovan Clingan. Still, Sarr should be the choice, and now he has good value at plus money.
BEST BET: Alex Sarr to be the No. 1 pick (+120)
Castle in top five following one-and-done season at UConn
Castle certainly made the most of his one year at UConn. The 6’6’’ guard averaged 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while the Huskies repeated as national champions. Castle was dynamic on both ends of the floor, making a bigger impact than his sheer numbers suggest.
Teams selecting in the top five of the draft generally need a little of everything, and “everything” is what Castle brings to the table. The Covington, Ga. native may not have the highest upside, but he can immediately contribute with his defensive prowess and versatile playmaking ability. Under 5.5 is the way to go with Castle.
BEST BET: Stephon Castle Draft Position Under 5.5 (-130)
Will the James game be united in Los Angeles?
Let’s be honest; Bronny is not currently an NBA-caliber player in his basketball career. The 6’2’’ shooting guard averaged just 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in his one college season at USC (25 games, six starts). It’s hard to see any NBA team selecting him with the idea of actually making its club better any time soon.
James wants to play with his son in the league, but at 39 years old he does not have time to mess around on a bad team. That’s not to say that the Los Angeles Lakers are serious contenders the way they are currently constructed, but it’s not like LeBron is interested in going to some moribund franchise like the Detroit Pistons, regardless of Bronny’s situation.
The only realistic scenario in which father and son are teammates is in Los Angeles. LeBron generally gets what he wants, so it’s worth taking a flyer on Bronny going to the Lakers at a +130 price.
BEST BET: Los Angeles Lakers to Select Bronny James (+150)
