Now that the 2018 NBA Draft is in the books, the focus will start to shift from overall player potential to what the top rookies will produce this coming season. DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley and Luka Doncic were the first players off the board. Will one of those players win the Rookie of the Year Award or is there a better bet? BetDSI Sportsbook has posted lines on who will win the award, so let’s take a closer look at the options.
After being selected as the top pick by the Phoenix Suns, Ayton is listed at +450 to win Rookie of the Year. He is likely to step right into a talented, young Suns lineup from the outset and contribute at a high level right away. Ayton averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game in his freshman season at Arizona. He won’t put up those numbers right away with Phoenix. However, that doesn’t mean he can’t produce 14.0 and 8.0 on a consistent basis while chipping in with some strong secondary numbers. He’ll have as much playing time as he can handle and he’s playing on a team that needs his help. Those are usually two big keys to being a strong ROY candidate.
One of the most interesting ROY candidates for this upcoming season is Luka Doncic. He was selected third overall by the Dallas Mavericks. Doncic was the best player in Europe at 18 years old last season and he is expected to get prime playing time right away. Can Doncic outperform Bagley and win Rookie of the Year? At +2500 odds, he might be a good value bet. Meanwhile, Bagley is the favorite at +150 after the Sacramento Kings selected him second overall. Bagley joins De’Aaron Fox to form the new Kings’ core, although this is a team that’s always a work in progress.
One name to consider for the ROY futures is one of the most hyped players entering the draft: Trae Young. He was drafted fifth overall by the Dallas Mavericks and then traded to the Hawks. Young is viewed as a player that the Hawks can build around. They’re a bad team who can offer a lot of playing time and stats. Young is listed at +200 odds to win the ROY.
Meanwhile, if you are looking for a deep sleeper pick then Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Collin Sexton might be the best bet on the board. Cleveland could be on the verge of a major transition should LeBron James decide to leave. If that happens, Sexton could be thrust into the spotlight. On the flipside, if James stays, Sexton will be a key piece on the team that should look great playing next to James. He is part of the ‘field’ option at +350.
2018-19 NBA Rookie Of The Year Odds
Marvin Bagley III +150
Trae Young +200
DeAndre Ayton +450
Michael Porter Jr. +1500
Luka Doncic +2500
Field (Any Other Player) +350
