Everyone in the hoops universe knows Victor Wembanyama will be the first name that will come out of Adam Silver's mouth in tonight's 2023 NBA Draft (8:00 p.m. ET, ABC). And depending on whether you believe Shams or Woj, the second name could be Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller. We also have a pretty good idea of how the top 10 will shake out, between our Sporting News mock draft and my best bets for each of the 10 picks. But the lesser-known sleepers often prove to be the biggest money-makers on the draft betting market.
Anyone can discuss the top-of-the-line prospects who have a plethora of highlight reels readily available all over the Internet. But what about the underrated kid from France or the latest Serbian sensation nobody really knows? The scouts and executives know them — shouldn't you know them, too, before betting on the biggest night of the NBA offseason?
MORE NBA DRAFT:
Mock draft | Big Board | Best bets for top 10 picks | Top props
Let's talk about our favorite sleepers — the guys falling under the top-20 radar who yield intriguing odds to be picked before the end of the first round this evening. Here's our eight favorite bets, and why we like them to grace the main stage before the end of the ABC portion of the broadcast.
2024 NBA Draft first-round sleepers
Odds courtesy of FanDuel and DraftKings
James Nnaji, FC Barcelona (-200 on DK to be drafted in the first round)
Nnaji, a 6'11, 250-pound Nigerian with a 7-7 wingspan, could help plenty of teams looking for center depth. He might not be an immediate impact player — he's only 18 — but he certainly makes for a good project for a squad in rebuilding mode. Nnaji makes for a fantastic bet to get drafted in the first round, and anyone looking for an upside play can bet him +1200 to go in the top 20 picks.
Jett Howard, Michigan (-150 on FD to be picked in the top 20)
Jett, Juwan Howard's son, has a plethora of ties to actual NBA teams and executives, which should give him a leg up on the competition this evening. The 6-8, 215-pound forward has been touted for his high basketball IQ, NBA-ready size at the wing, and scoring upside. If he was a better, more physical rebounder and defender, he would be a top 10 prospect. As it stands, we expect him to be called at least by pick 20.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (+200 on DK to go in the first round)
TJD has size (6-9), skill, and athleticism, and he has reportedly had a great pre-draft run between workouts and team meetings. The Twitter buzz has been that Jackson-Davis could be among the many Hoosiers who enjoys a little board-jumping this evening. We're putting a modest wager on him getting called before the end of the opening round.
Sidy Cissoko, G League (+250 on DK to go in the first round)
Cissoko, a G-Leaguer by way of France, has vision, handles, and passing chops and presents as a matchup nightmare with his 6-7 frame and 6-10 wingspan. The future of tall ball-handlers is bright, and there's no way 30 teams pass on Cissoko's massive ceiling.
Kobe Brown, Missouri (+800 on DK to go in the first round)
We've heard a lot of good things in the Twitter-verse about Brown, who apparently enjoyed some strong pre-draft workouts and interviews. He's 6-8, 250 with strength and strong outside shooting (45.5% 3PT shooting last season), and should make for a great role player for a contending team picking in the teens or 20s.
Leonard Miller, G League (+175 on FD to go in the top 20)
Miller might not have the highlight reel of G League star Scoot Henderson or Overtime Elite twins Amen and Ausar Thompson, but he still has plenty of across-the-board talent. The 6-10, 210-pound Canadian just continues to grow in every sense of the word, and he seems destined to get scooped within the first 20 picks tonight.
Amari Bailey, UCLA (+450 on DK to go in the first round)
Underrated Golden Bear sharpshooter Bailey has multi-positional size at 6-5, and his range might be as good as anyone in this draft class not named Gradey Dick (he probably dresses better than Gradey, too). Shooting will always be a priority in today's NBA, and many people are overlooking the two-guards in this draft pool. Bailey's name should be called well before the second round.
Tristan Vukcevic, Serbia (+2000 on DK to go in the first round)
We agree with Sporting News friend and BetQL maestro Dan Karpuc, who mocked Vukcevic to the Nuggets to join Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic in Denver's quest for a repeat. Denver made some moves to add picks this evening, and it would make all the sense in the world if they grabbed a fellow Serbian for Joker to put under his wing. An $8 scratch ticket pays out at over $175 here — the big potential reward is well worth the minor gamble.
