2019 NBA All-Star Draft Odds: Will LeBron Draft Durant? Who Will be 1st/Last Pick?
- Who will LeBron James take with the 1st pick in All-Star Draft, scheduled for February 7th
- What team will NBA leading scorer James Harden end up on?
- Where does hometown favorite Kemba Walker get drafted among starters?
The first step in assembling the NBA’s All-Star Game (February 17th) rosters was completed this week, with the starters getting named.
It’s headed by the league’s top vote-getter LeBron James, who will serve as a captain for the second straight year since this new (and actually wildly cool format) has been adopted. That top distinction earns him the first pick in the draft.
He’ll be opposite team captain Giannis Antetokounmpo, the top vote-getter in the East.
Unlike last year, this draft will be televised, on February 7th at 7pm EST, letting us into the minds of these player-GMs for the night.
Odds to be Drafted First in NBA All-Star Draft
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| James Harden | +180 |
| Kemba Walker | +200 |
| Kyrie Irving | +550 |
| Stephen Curry | +600 |
| Kawhi Leonard | +750 |
| Joel Embiid | +900 |
| Paul George | +900 |
| Kevin Durant | +900 |
*All odds taken 1/26
Analysis: Call me crazy, but I don’t find LeBron that enamored with Harden, not after a frustrating loss when he dropped a 50-burger triple-double on his Lakers, followed by a 48-point performance this week.
#JamesHarden — 48 Pts (8/19 3PT, 12/15 FT), 6 Ast, 8 Reb, 4 Stl — highlights in 138-134 win Vs #Lakers pic.twitter.com/iGharHti80
— Per Sources (@PerSources) January 20, 2019
Looking for value? I can’t believe KD is at +900. If you buy into the theory that LeBron’s purpose is building his best team in real life, I don’t blame you for taking Leonard (+750).
Pick: Durant (+900)
Odds to be Drafted Last in NBA All-Star Draft
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Nikola Vucevic | +400 |
| Rudy Gobert | +450 |
| Tobias Harris | +500 |
| Mike Conley | +500 |
| D’Angelo Russell | +600 |
| LaMarcus Aldridge | +800 |
| Kyle Lowry | +1200 |
| Luka Doncic | +1500 |
| Nikola Jokic | +1500 |
| Bradley Beal | +2000 |
| Ben Simmons | +2000 |
| Jimmy Butler | +2500 |
| Blake Griffin | +2500 |
Analysis: I really do think the bigs are positioned in the right spots on this board, as they are expendable.
If you’re feeling lack of name recognition, you may want to look into Tobias Harris (+500) or D’Angelo Russell (+600).
Some All-Star-type plays for @BlakeGriffin23. #PistonsNowhttps://t.co/8DW1gtGaxQ pic.twitter.com/x1OBADCO7t
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 3, 2019
If you’re looking for a real long shot, I might suggest one point guard who doesn’t scream all-star (Kyle Lowry, at +1200) or a big man who plays more like the original terminator version, than the more modern, youthful models (Blake Griffin, at +2500).
Pick: Russell (+600)
Will Embiid or George Get Drafted First?
| Who Will Be Drafted First in the NBA All-Star Draft? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Joel Embiid | -120 |
| Paul George | -120 |
Analysis: As much as Joel Embiid is the NBA’s most dominant big man, proving he belonged in crunch time among the all-stars in last year’s game, the traditional center isn’t exactly a hot commodity in this showcase game.
PAUL GEORGE. TOO CLUTCH. pic.twitter.com/yaXtqN7ZZr
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 19, 2019
That being said, there’s an abundance of big fellas available in this draft, including multi-dimensional ones like Nikola Vucevic, Nikola Jokic, and LaMarcus Aldridge.
You know what’s in demand? Athletic-as-hell wing players, particularly one playing so well he’s in the room when discussing MVP.
Pick: George (-120)
Will Durant or Leonard Get Drafted First?
| Who Will Be Drafted First in the NBA All-Star Draft? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kevin Durant | -120 |
| Kawhi Leonard | -120 |
Analysis: The results of last year’s draft were never revealed, but we can safely assume that captain James chose Kevin Durant with the first pick.
Sure, there could be some James-as-GM trying to imitate real life by taking Kawhi, but I’m just guessing cyborgs don’t take that stuff into consideration. Ever seen a cyborg laugh?
Pick: Durant (-120)
Kawhi’s laugh sounds like a cyborg trying to learn how to be human pic.twitter.com/PcTQRXKd0z
— Alex (@Childish_Noir) January 20, 2019
Will Irving or Harden Get Drafted First?
| Who Will Be Drafted First in the NBA All-Star Draft? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kyrie Irving | +155 |
| James Harden | -220 |
Analysis: There is literally no chance that the league’s leading scorer goes any lower than third, behind KD and Steph Curry. Literally none.
Dropping 43.5 points a game over the last 20+ should earn you that clout.
Pick: Harden (-220)
61.
Career High ✔
Franchise High ✔
21 straight of 30+ ✔️
3 50+ in one month ✔️
A win in the Garden ✔️
James. Harden. MVP. pic.twitter.com/6hnjnFqktY— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 24, 2019
Will Curry or Walker Get Drafted First?
| Who Will Be Drafted First in the NBA All-Star Draft? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Stephen Curry | -120 |
| Kemba Walker | -120 |
Analysis: Giannis seems like a nice enough guy that he might just take Kemba, just to give some love to the guy repping the home team over the guy repping the city as his home.
That would be an egregious call.
Pick: Curry (-120)
Will Antetokounmpo Draft Curry?
| Will Giannis select Steph Curry in NBA All-Star Draft? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | -120 |
| No | -120 |
Analysis: Let’s just say Curry has his fingers crossed that it’s a yes. He probably drafted him in 2018 because he’s still shook from the 2017 game, when he was ground into powder, courtesy the Freak.
Pick: Yes (-120)
NBA ALL-STAR 2017: Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 30 points, and showed out for the East, including this hammer dunk on Steph Curry. pic.twitter.com/BMqQid3Jgw
— dada (@dada_on) February 20, 2017
Will LeBron Draft Anthony Davis?
| Will LeBron select AD in NBA All-Star Draft? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | -300 |
| No | +200 |
Analysis: Crazy that a guy averaging 29.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists while shooting 50.8% from the field wasn’t named a starter in the midseason showcase. Such is the life in the ultra-loaded West.
Anthony Davis showing off the handles ? pic.twitter.com/7iahx7DgS7
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 8, 2019
Safe to say that the ‘Brow is the first reserve off the board, and that pick (after too much time by me figuring out the draft format), goes to Team Giannis.
Sorry, ‘Bron, may just have to wait till next season to play with Davis.
Pick: No (+200)
Will LeBron Draft Kevin Durant?
| Will LeBron select KD in NBA All-Star Draft? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | -105 |
| No | -135 |
Analysis: Not sure why the odds were so long that Durant would be the first pick.
I mean, KD and LeBron could fit on any team – they just happen to make a near perfect fit as multi-faceted wings. Stunned if he isn’t on Team LeBron.
Pick: Yes (-105)
Will LeBron Draft Kyrie Irving?
| Will LeBron select Kyrie Irving in NBA All-Star Draft? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | EVEN |
| No | -140 |
Analysis: This one has been picking up steam ever since Kyrie made a call to his former teammate, as he was struggling in a leadership role with his new team in Boston.
What do you think LeBron said to Kyrie Irving, who called Bron and apologized for "being that young player that wanted everything at his fingertips."
(Via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/HiEKImrhMG
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 17, 2019
A pick of LeBron’s a year ago, LBJ is going to have to likely make a choice between Kawhi, George and Irving, after Durant, Harden and Steph are off the board.
Team-building LeBron knows they need another ball handler – plus, he’ll have either PG or Kawhi with the next pick. Not bad.
Pick: Yes (EVEN)
Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
