Anthony Edwards favored to be selected first overall in 2020 NBA Draft

The NBA has yet to determine which team will have the first pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, but oddsmakers are certain they know whom they’ll select.

University of Georgia freshman Anthony Edwards has emerged as the favorite to be chosen first overall with odds of +120 at BetAmerica. The 18-year-old shooting guard is coming off of a phenomenal season in which he averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game and earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors. His contributions didn’t always result in wins for the 16-16 Bulldogs, but that was more a reflection of his mediocre supporting cast rather than any personal shortcomings.

Edwards has the size (6-foot-5, 225 lb) and off-the-charts athleticism to thrive at the next level, and figures to be a franchise player for any team lucky enough to nab him.

Is Wiseman a wise choice at No. 1?

Edwards is followed closely on the oddsboard by University of Memphis center James Wiseman. The 19-year-old pivot found himself at the center of a media maelstrom in 2019 after he was found guilty of accepting $11,500 in moving expenses from Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway. Wiseman was sentenced to a 12-game suspension, but left school prematurely on Dec. 19 to prepare for the NBA Draft instead.

Like Edwards, Wiseman also has an NBA-ready body (7-foot-1, 251 lb), but many scouts aren’t sure what to make of the Nashville native due to his lack of collegiate experience. He looked solid enough in the three games he played, but it’s one thing to ball out against South Carolina State, and quite another to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Anthony Davis and LeBron James.

Questions also remain about Wiseman’s motor. His effort level ebbed and flowed in high school and he was frequently chastised for his lack of intensity. A year of college ball would have done wonders to iron out the flaws in his game and improve his mental approach. Any team that selects Wiseman will do so knowing he may need a year or two to mature into an impact player.

Ball has the look of an elite playmaker

Rounding out the top three is LaMelo Ball. The youngest brother of New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball, LaMelo was named the IBL’s Rookie of the Year in 2020 after averaging 17.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game for the Illawara Hawks. His shot selection and spindly frame leave much to be desired, but there’s no doubting Ball’s skill. The 6-foot-7 point guard is already an elite passer and fearless shotmaker who should fit in well in today’s wide-open NBA.

The NBA recently postponed the Draft Lottery and Draft Combine, but the 2020 NBA Draft is still scheduled to take place on June 25 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

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