NBA Summer League action in Las Vegas runs from July 12-22, but even though all 30 teams haven’t debuted, action in California and Utah has given us a sneak peek at improved players and intriguing new talents.
Tops among them has been Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey, the two-time National Player of the Year at Purdue. Following his debut in Salt Lake City, he’s the early betting favorite to win Rookie of the Year, according to odds at top sportsbooks.
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Odds to win 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year: Zach Edey's early performance turns heads
Here are live NBA Rookie of the Year odds from top sportsbook sites.
Although concerns over how the 7-foot-4 Canadian center would fare in the faster-paced pros were ever-present despite his college dominance, his first game opened some eyes. Edey more than held his own against an established former lottery pick in Jazz 7-footer Walker Kessler, who is entering his third season, has started 62 games, and finished third in the ROY voting in 2022-23.
Edey dunked on Kessler, banged with him in the paint, set crippling picks and grabbed 15 rebounds in his SLC Summer League debut. Memphis selected him ninth to help replace veteran Steven Adams, who they shipped to Houston at the trade deadline and whose physicality they missed badly once he was lost to a PCL injury in early '22.
Ahead of Summer League in Vegas, DraftKings lists Edey at +600 to win NBA Rookie of the Year, as the betting market envisions his massive presence will help a Grizzlies team that gets back starting guards Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, among others, return to the playoffs.
Early NBA Rookie of the Year betting tip: Alex Sarr’s odds could tighten
No. 2 pick Alexandre Sarr (Wizards, +650) and top selection Zaccharie Risacher (Hawks, +700), young French standouts who will be linked together for the rest of their careers, are also among the early betting favorites to take the baton from 2023-24 Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama as top first-year player.
Sarr and Risacher were matched up for their Vegas Summer League debuts and enter the season as projected starters. Sarr had a chance to go No. 1 but opted not to work out for the Hawks, who instead took Risacher.
Risacher, the 6-foot-9 top pick, is a long, smooth-looking wing whose defense is expected to be a major asset for Atlanta. He is unlikely to get many shots early with Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, DeAndre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic potentially all remaining on Atlanta’s roster.
From a betting perspective, Sarr is who I’d hop on before he puts together a strong run in Vegas because he’s got an opportunity to put up the biggest numbers when the regular season rolls around.
The Wizards are in a major rebuild and just traded one of their most productive forwards, Deni Avdija, to Portland. Washington traded center Daniel Gafford to Dallas at the trade deadline earlier this year, so starter’s minutes are ahead for Sarr at power forward, alongside Kyle Kuzma and newly-acquired center Jonas Valanciunas.
Castle, Sheppard, Knecht also getting Rookie of the Year love at sportsbooks
Guards Stephen Castle (Spurs, +900), Reed Sheppard (Rockets, +1000) and Dalton Knecht (Lakers, +1000) round out the top-six betting choices as action in Las Vegas begins.
Castle, who will team with Wembanyama, should become a key contributor. However, it remains to be seen how many minutes he’ll receive with veteran guard Chris Paul on board to mentor him and other young guards like Tre Jones and Blake Wesley in the mix at the point. Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Keldon Johnson, Malaki Branham and recent acquisition Harrison Barnes are in place too, so although Castle could end up becoming the top player in this class, he may not get the minutes necessary to emerge as a top ROY candidate.
Sheppard and Knecht, the top shooters in this class, will be lower on the totem pole as first-year wings, but their skill should make them key contributors. Same goes for Rob Dillingham (Timberwolves, +1800), set to be a catalyst off Minnesota’s bench as it covets a title run.
NBA Rookie of the Year prediction and longshot to consider
If you’re looking for a top longshot to back, Washington teenage guard Carlton “Bub” Carrington (+2500) is a nice option for the same reason I think Sarr ultimately wins the award.
Head coach Brian Keefe wants to play fast, and developing Carrington, a prominent stat-stuffer in his one season at Pitt, will be a priority. Opportunities will be available behind Malcolm Brogdon and Jordan Poole, particularly if Brogdon is eventually moved in-season.
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