My two favorite bets for the 2022 NBA Draft involve Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin. His draft position prop sits at 6.5. I love his under, which is listed at -125 on DraftKings. On BetOnline, he's listed at +650 to be the fifth overall pick. I think he is the perfect player to compete alongside Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons. At just 20 years old, Mathurin is a young, explosive athlete, who shoots a high percentage from three point range. A consensus second-team All-American and Pac-12 Player of the Year, Mathurin offers an enticing blend of upside and proven productivity. As a sophomore, he averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, while shooting 45.0% from the field and 36.9% from three point range. He led the Arizona Wildcats to a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament last season.
Last season, Detroit started Corey Joseph and Cade Cunningham in the backcourt. Joseph is best suited as a backup, and Detroit is in dire need of three point shooting, having finished second-to-last in three point shooting percentage. The Pistons need a wing scorer, who has the ability to play off-the-ball. Mathurin fits this profile perfectly. Other candidates to be taken fifth include Iowa forward Keegan Murray, Purdue guard Jaden Ivey, and Shaedon Sharpe. Murray is two years older than Mathurin, so his upside is limited. Ivey is seen as the consensus fourth best player in the draft, so he should be selected at #4. Sharpe didn't play a single minute at Kentucky last season, so he's viewed as the ultimate wild card of the 2022 NBA Draft. In my opinion, Mathurin should be considered the favorite to be the fifth selection. The Arizona standout is favored to go in the top 6 selections, and he has little to no shot to be selected with the first four picks. That puts him squarely in the sights of the Detroit Pistons.
Consider following my Twitter account, as I've tweeted about my love for Mathurin as a prospect extensively. I bet on his under at 8.5, top 10 at -400, and odds to be taken fifth at +2200 and +3000. These values have changed to 6.5, top 10 at -2000, and odds to be taken fifth at +230, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
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