2019 NBA Draft Guide - Projections, Draft Order and Odds

Christian Jope - June 6, 2019

How to Watch the 2019 NBA Draft

What: 2019 NBA Draft

Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York

When: Thursday, June 20th at 8:30 PM EST

How (TV): ESPN, Yahoo Sports

NBA Draft Overview

The 2019 NBA Draft will occur on Thursday, June 20th at 8:30 PM at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, NY. The broadcast will be available on ESPN and Yahoo Sports.

The 2019 NBA Draft was the first to introduce the new weighted lottery system – where the bottom three ranking teams in the league each had an equal 14% chance to win the number one overall pick.

The bottom three teams – the New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, and Cleveland Cavaliers finished within their projected range. But the overall winner of the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery was the New Orleans Pelicans.

2019 NBA Draft Order

Despite having only a 6% chance of winning the draft lottery, the New Orleans Pelicans came away with the greatest prize.

While they ensured a full year of in-season disappointment for their fans, the Knicks, Cavaliers, and Suns failed to reward those fans’ patience with the top pick. The Suns in particular were disappointed as they fell out of the Top 5 entirely.

Other than the Pelicans, who won the first overall pick, the Memphis Grizzlies made the greatest climb as their 6% chance to win the lottery brought them the second-overall pick in the draft.

What Were the Odds Going into the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery?

While the new weighted odds system did much to discourage tanking in the NBA, it also rewarded a number of teams who performed to their limited potential during the season.

Catch up on the odds for the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery via our NBA Draft Lottery 2019: Odds and Predictions.

Who Is Going Number 1 Overall?

The world has been watching the NBA’s bottomfeeders closely, to see who will win the sweepstakes for Zion Williamson. He seems to be the top prospect across the board, as his athleticism and technical skill are seemingly second to none regardless of league.

Don’t sleep on other starlets such as Ja Morant and RJ Barrett. The small-school Morant and Canadian International and Williamson teammate Barrett both boast the skill sets to be the top overall pick in any other draft.

It wasn’t long ago that the Cavaliers shocked the world by taking Anthony Bennett first overall. With the situation of Anthony Davis’ future hanging over the head of the Pelicans, anything can happen.

Who Has the Most Picks?

Teams always enter the NBA Draft with a single first-round and a single second-round pick. Through trades, teams can lose and accumulate picks to their benefit.

In the 2019 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers own five separate picks. They will select 24th overall in the first round and 33rd, 34th, 42nd, and 54th in the second-round.

After the Sixers’ failure in the NBA Playoffs, they are surely looking for a piece to complement their young stars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Don’t be surprised to see them active in the trade market as well, as their sheer number of picks is surely too many to take into the next season.

Who Were the Recent No. 1 Overall Picks?

2018: DeAndre Ayton – Phoenix Suns

Ayton entered the 2018 draft as its brightest prospect. A 7-0 center with an NBA-ready body, Ayton seemed to be the center of the future for the Suns. Despite a brilliant season that won him a spot on the All-Rookie First Team, Suns management seems to be driving his talents nowhere.

2017: Markelle Fultz – Philadelphia 76ers

A freshman point guard out of Washington, Markelle Fultz seemed to be a D’Angelo Russell-esque talent for the 76ers young core. Unfortunately, a serious issue regarding Fultz’s shoulder has prevented him from playing any significant role to this point in his career. He was traded to the Orlando Magic this past year, as the Sixers did not have the patience to endure his recovery.

2016: Ben Simmons – Philadelphia 76ers

That’s right, in back-to-back years the Philadelphia 76ers selected a point guard with the first overall pick. While Simmons took a year to recover from a foot injury, he rewarded their patience with a rookie of the year award and an All-Star appearance to this point in his career.

2015: Karl-Anthony Towns – Minnesota Timberwolves

Towns is a Dominican center out of the University of Kentucky who was a giant amongst his fellow draft class. Not only in size but in skill, Towns was clearly the star of the 2015 class. He won the ’15-’16 Rookie of the Year award and is a two-time NBA All-Star.

2014: Andrew Wiggins – Toronto Raptors

The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Kansas freshman wing Andrew Wiggins with the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. “Maple Jordan” as he was dubbed, has grown into an excellent scorer for the Timberwolves but is yet to reward them with more than his Rookie of the Year award. Still only 24, the Canadian still has plenty of time to add to his career.

2019 NBA Draft Odds

If you are in New Jersey you can bet on the NBA Draft with BetStars NJ. Here are the latest odds. Good luck!

First Draft Pick

First Draft Pick Odds BetStars NJ
Zion Williamson -20000
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RJ Barett +2200
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Jarett Culver  +5000
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Rui Hachimura +6600
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DeAndre Hunter +6600
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Coby White +10000
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Cameron Reddish +10000
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Boi Boi +10000
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Brandon Clarke +12500
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* 21+ | NJ only | If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER

Second Overall Draft Pick

Second Draft Pick Odds BetStars NJ
Ja Morant -333
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RJ Barett +225
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Darius Garland +1100
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Jarett Culver +1400
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DeAndre Hunter +1400
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Coby White +1800
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Cameron Reddish +10000
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Rui Hachimura +2000
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Cameron Reddish +4000
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* 21+ | NJ only | If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER