The 2020-21 is fast approaching opening tipoff after a shortened offseason. When the action gets underway, NBA fans will be watching closely to see which rookies emerge as potential stars. For bettors who like to speculate on such things at NBA betting websites, you have to start thinking about the Rookie of the Year futures bets.
It’s safe to say that the 2019-20 NBA season was one that fans have never encountered before. Yet the league gets credit for sidestepping many of the problems that hounded other professional leagues with their bubble concept. Many rookie stars helped make the season memorable as well, including the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year, Ja Morant of Memphis.
Morant was one of the guys who immediately stood out as a potential winner of the award when he was drafted last year, both because of his brilliance in college and the opportunity he would be afforded with the Grizzlies. But specifying the best candidates for the 2020-21 Rookie of the Year award in the NBA could be a bit trickier for a number of reasons.
First of All, There Is the Truncated Nature of the Offseason
With no summer leagues, shorter training camps and a reduction in exhibition games, teams will have a harder time incorporating rookies into the flow. Bettors, as well, will face a more difficult time figuring out which rookies might shine.
In addition, this year’s draft featured far more unknown quantities than in perhaps any other year. The cancellation of the NCAA Men’s Tournament meant that the best college players weren’t able to show what they could do under the brightest lights and most intense pressure. And European players and those American players who didn’t go the traditional college route also make it hard to predict what will happen.
As a result, there is a good possibility that rookies might not have as much of an impact this year in the NBA. But regardless of that, there will still be a Rookie of the Year when all is said and done. Your job is to figure out the futures bets for NBA ROY that give you the best potential value, and our is to help you out in that endeavor.
With that in mind, we’re here to help you with choosing the best 2020-21 NBA Rookie of the Year futures bets that you can place on basketball betting sites. We’ll go through all the top contenders for the awards, giving you details on their strengths and weaknesses as well as their opportunities for playing time right off the bat. In addition, we’ll reveal the guys who we think you should feel pretty good about spending your money on with a futures wager or two.
The Top Contenders for 2020-21 Rookie of the Year
LaMelo Ball, Charlotte (+400)
If there was an award for which rookie would be under the most scrutiny, it would be Ball for sure. But he enters in a prime spot for immediate contribution. He should be starting at point guard on Opening Night for the Hornets, and the addition of Gordon Heyward gives Ball a partner for what should be plentiful assists.
Ball’s main issue, like his brother Lonzo, is his shooting ability. And, unlike Ben Simmons, he’s unlikely to shy away from shooting it, which will likely keep his efficiency numbers way down. Still, he is an understandable favorite for the award, even if he is a bit polarizing as a player at this moment.
James Wiseman, Golden State (+500)
It’s hard to think of a better match between the player’s skills and what his team requires than Wiseman. He is unlikely to be needed as much of a scorer considering all the talent he has around him with the Warriors. They’ll just ask him to block shots, set picks, and clean the glass.
Wiseman should get around 25 minutes a night, even if he doesn’t start. The key is that he’ll be playing for a playoff contender, which not too many of the other top ROY candidates can say. If he contributes, he will stand out more than those guys who are stuck on losing teams.
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota (+600)
He was the top pick in the draft, which will immediately get him a bigger look-see from the media than others might get. There are some obstacles to playing time, but it’s hard to imagine the Wolves keeping him in the background too long. His skills as a wing scorer are something this team seriously lacks.
Just a year ago, Jarrett Culver was expected by many to be a sleeper Rookie of the Year candidate for Minnesota, but he struggled to find a groove. The team figures to be built, offensively, around Karl-Anthony Towns and DeAngelo Russell. That could leave Edwards, like Culver, struggling to get usage, even if he does get the playing time.
Obi Toppin, New York (+650)
On the one hand, Toppin was generally considered one of the most NBA-ready of all the college products entering the NBA. His skill set is easily translatable at any level of competition. And he also has the benefit of the blinding media spotlight, which will amplify anything good that he manages to do on the court.
The negative is that the Knicks, even with new coach Tom Thibodeau, seem to be lacking a clear plan. They were happy to get Toppin, but he plays the same position as Julius Randle, the team’s #1 offensive option from a year ago. Finding a way to make that logjam work is a necessity before Toppin can ascend to ROY status.
Killian Hayes, Detroit (+800)
The Germany product is the kind of rangy point guard product that is becoming more and more in vogue in the NBA. And there is definitely some sleeper ROY potential here. While his three-point shooting needs work and he doesn’t have blinding speed, his play in Europe was very encouraging, especially his tender age (19).
Hayes ends up on a team where there are point guard options, but they come with question marks attached. Derrick Rose can still play but the injury risk is heightened, while recent pickup Delon Wright fell out of favor in Dallas despite many chances. Look for Hayes to be in the mix for the award when all is said and done.
Tyrese Haliburton, Sacramento (+1400)
Haliburton comes into the league with the kind of skillset that stands out. He can shoot it and he can pass it, which should get him playing time and numbers right off the bat. How much of that playing time remains to be seen, which is the one thing holding him back here.
He played point in college at Iowa State, but he won’t get much run there with the Kings due to the presence of De’Aaron Fox. His best path to playing time is at shooting guard, where he’ll battle Buddy Hield. Haliburton needs that spot, because a backup on a lower-tier team isn’t likely to get the kind of exposure he needs for honors like this.
Deni Avdija, Washington (+1600)
The potential for the Wizards to be better than people expected can both help and hurt Avdija’s chances. Getting to play for a potential playoff team is a positive for any ROY hopeful. But there are a lot of guys who will be getting usage around him (Russell Westbrook, Bradley Beal, Thomas Bryant, Davis Bertans, Rui Hachimura), which means his stats could be modest.
Avdija has unicorn-like qualities as a 6’9” guy who handles the ball deftly. And his play in Israel against more experienced players certainly helps his projection for immediate success. There is also the benefit that small forward is the one spot on Washington lacking a clear-cut starter.
Isaac Okoro, Cleveland (+1800)
Playing time is such a crucial component of any Rookie of the Year hopeful, which is why the Auburn product Okoro stands out at those odds. There is certainly some inexperience, as he came out after just one season with the Tigers, where his stats didn’t exactly stand out. And his outside shooting is a bit of a worry after he struggled at the college distance three-point line a year ago.
But outside of Ball, Okoro could have the clearest path to 30 minutes per game. The Cavaliers are all-out rebuilding, and the other main guy at small forward, Cedi Osman, is more a bench type anyway. The counting stats for Okoro could make him a real contender.
Saddiq Bey, Detroit (+2000)
Bey was a solid performer during his time at Villanova, which, oddly enough, might be an issue. The fact is that, for as great as they’ve been in college, recent Jay Wright products haven’t performed all too excitingly in the NBA. But every situation is different, and Bey could fall into a favorable one.
His outside shooting is something that will surely play in his new surroundings. It will be interesting to see if the Pistons put Blake Griffin at small forward full-time, or if they choose to use him in tandem with new addition Jerami Grant at power forward. If it’s the latter, Bey could end up walking into some playing time early in his career.
Cole Anthony, Orlando (+2500)
Anthony seems to be in a big of a logjam position-wise, but it’s not quite that dire. The starter at point for the Magic, Markelle Fultz, is definitely coming off a better-than-expected season. But point guard is really not his true position, which means that Fultz and Anthony could conceivably coexist in Magic lineups.
His lone season in North Carolina was largely wrecked by injuries. And when he did play, there was a lot of bad mixed in with the good. But there is a way you can squint and see Anthony starting at point guard for Orlando, a potential playoff at some point this season, which would make those 25 to 1 futures betting odds quite inviting.
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia (+3300)
Remember what we said about Villanova products sometimes struggling at the next level. Well, that is rarely an issue for those who come out of the Kentucky program under John Calipari. Maxey is a tough competitor who should fit right in with Philly, probably in a bench role to start.
The Sixers have a lot of moving parts in the backcourt, especially considering Ben Simmons is the primary ball-handler in a small forward’s body. Maxey definitely has to battle his way into some run for Doc Rivers. But if he can somehow find his way into Philly’s preferred finishing five, there is a path to awards consideration.
R.J. Hampton, Denver (+5000)
It’s at this point in the list where we start to get down to guys who are playing for some of the best teams in the league. As such, there is an issue for them just breaking into the lineup, as coaches like the Nuggets’ Mike Malone doesn’t have the luxury of fooling around with untested rookies. But a look at the Denver depth chart reveals some openings for Hampton.
At shooting guard, Hampton’s probably position, he would only have to beat out Gary Harris, who is often hurt and seemed to take a step back last year. If Hampton could handle small forward (and if Denver plays Michael Porter Jr. more at the four), he only has to beat out Will Barton, who is also coming back from injury. It all could add up to a good spot for the talented but inexperienced youngster.
Payton Pritchard, Boston (+8000)
It’s possible that Pritchard rides the pine or even spends some time in the G League on such a good team. But keep in mind that Kemba Walker will miss time at the start of the season. If, for some reason, Walker can’t get back up to speed, the Celtics have a big hole to fill.
Jeff Teague was signed as insurance and he’ll probably be the starter in Boston in December. But if Pritchard, a well-rounded player with the kind of experience to suggest a quick transition to professional ball, can earn some playing time early, he might stick. And then there isn’t that big a leap into being an ROY possibility.
Best NBA Rookie of the Year Bets
- Short Odds: James Wiseman (+500)
- Medium Odds: Isaac Okoro (+1800)
- Long Odds: Cole Anthony (+2500)
Jim Beviglia
Jim Beviglia joined Gamblingsites.org as a staff writer in 2018, parlaying his years of freelance writing into contributions on a number of different topics. He handles the sport of horse racing for GamblingSites.org and the intersection between the worlds of cryptocurrency and online gambling in a weekly blog.
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