With the 2018 NBA Draft finally a wrap, fans can now look ahead to the 2018-19 season and consider where their new recruits will fit in. Who will get an opportunity to shine right away? Who will spend this season on the bench waiting for his turn? Who—if anyone—will emerge as the next Donovan Mitchell?
Each summer, Vegas releases its way-too-early odds for Rookie of the Year. Last year, Philly's Ben Simmons, who had sat out his first real year in the league, was dubbed the favorite—and that prediction seems likely to come to fruition, with Mitchell likely coming in second.
As for this year? Vegas unsurprisingly favors the No. 1 overall pick, DeAndre Ayton, who's headed to the Phoenix Suns. Others, like Dallas' Luka Doncic and the Kings' Marvin Bagley III, are close behind.
Check out the full odds, via Bovada, below.
Deandre Ayton 13/5
Luka Doncic 3/1
Marvin Bagley 9/2
Trae Young 7/1
Jaren Jackson Jr 9/1
Mohamed Bamba 11/1
Kevin Knox 15/1
Michael Porter Jr 15/1
Mikal Bridges 22/1
Collin Sexton 22/1
Miles Bridges 28/1
Wendell Carter Jr 28/1
Donte DiVincenzo 40/1
Shai Gilgeous-Alexansder 40/1
Zhaire Smith 45/1
Lonnie Walker 50/1
Robert Williams 50/1
I like Bagley, as he'll get an opportunity immediately in Sacramento and projects to be—at worst—a good stats/bad team guy. But if you're looking for a dark horse with slimmer odds, don't sleep on Lonnie Walker, who fell to the Spurs at No. 18. Walker showed immense promise, especially in ACC play, as a freshman at Miami.
