NBA Draft: Odds Favor Noel as Top Pick for Cleveland Cavaliers

Many NBA observers thought Nerlens Noel wrecked his chance at being the top pick in the NBA draft when he wrecked his knee.

But with the draft looming and with the order settled, the lanky Kentucky star continues as the betting favorite to go first overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Ten years after getting LeBron James with the first overall pick in the draft and two years after getting PG Kyrie Irving with the top overall choice, the Cavs lucked out in the lottery and find themselves in possession of the No. 1 pick.

Noel, the talented Kentucky freshman, played 24 games for the Wildcats last season before going down and out with a serious knee injury. Nonetheless, the 6'10" forward is the early basketball betting favorite to become the first pick in June's draft at a price of -200, per Oddsshark.com.

Otto Porter, the All-American guard out of Georgetown, is a clear-cut second favorite on the “first pick” betting board at +200 (that means a $100 wager would pay a $200 profit).

And every other player eligible to be drafted is lumped into “The Field” at a price of +500.

The Orlando Magic, coming off their worst season since their first as a franchise, own the second overall pick for the upcoming draft.

With that in mind, bookmakers are listing Kansas G Ben McLemore at -150 to be the second pick on June 27. He's followed on that board by a couple other guards, both out of the Big Ten—Michigan's Trey Burke at +150 and Indiana's Victor Oladipo at +500.

The Washington Wizards, who had only the eighth-best chance at getting the top pick in the draft, ended up with the third overall choice.

Keeping that in mind, Porter is lined at -150 to be the third pick in the draft, followed by UNLV's Anthony Bennett at +150 and Noel at +500.

Finally, several NBA draft odds menus were listing a price of +200 on Cleveland trading that top overall pick, and -300 on keeping it.