2020 NBA Draft odds to go No. 4: Chicago Bulls favored to select Deni Avdija if they stay at fourth pick
The 2020 NBA Draft is next Wednesday, and the intrigue might start with the No. 4 pick and Chicago.
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The coronavirus-delayed 2020 NBA Draft is next Wednesday and will be held virtually from ESPN's headquarters in Bristol, Conn. It's certainly one of the most unusual drafts ever not just because of how late in the year it's being held but also in that teams couldn't work out many players in person due to COVID-19. It does seem very likely that the top three picks in whatever order will be LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards and James Wiseman, meaning the draft truly starts at No. 4 with the Chicago Bulls. They are favored via SportsLine oddsmakers to pick Israel's Deni Avdija.
The Bulls are an unknown because they have an entirely new front office in vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley, as well as a new coaching staff led by head coach Billy Donovan, last of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Chicago has some intriguing pieces in guards Zach LaVine and Coby White (second-team All-Rookie last season) as well was big men Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. White was the No. 7 overall pick in 2019 out of North Carolina, Carter the No. 7 overall pick in 2018 out of Duke, and Markkanen the No. 7 overall pick in 2017 from Arizona.
Clearly, the previous organization liked players from Power 5 marquee programs who declared following their freshmen seasons. Ironically, Chicago had the NBA's seventh-worst record in the 2019-20 shortened season and would have picked seventh yet again if not for moving up to fourth in the lottery.
Karnisovas has said he will simply take the best talent available, but he has a history from his Nuggets days of leaning toward international players. Thus, many mock drafts – including one from CBS Sports' Kyle Boone – have Chicago taking the Israeli forward Avdija at No. 4 presuming Ball, Edwards and Wiseman are off the board. William Hill sportsbook has Edwards as the -150 favorite to go first.
Chicago could use a ball-handler because White and LaVine are scoring guards and Avdija would be a sensible long-term solution at small forward when Otto Porter leaves in free agency after next season. A 6-foot-9 forward with point guard skills, the 19-year-old Avdija became the youngest MVP in Israeli League history and helped lead Maccabi Tel Aviv to its third consecutive league title.
One concern is that Avdija shot just 33.3% from a closer three-point line in Europe last season and 58.8% from the free-throw line. He's also not all that athletic and doesn't have a large wingspan.
If the Bulls want a safer pick, Dayton power forward Obi Toppin would fit the bill. Toppin was named the 2019-20 National Player of the Year by just about everyone, including CBS Sports. He was the only player in the country who averaged 20.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and shot over 60% from the field. Toppin has a high floor but his ceiling isn't as high as other top prospects. In his latest mock draft, CBS Sports' Gary Parrish has Toppin to the Bulls.
William Hill lists Over-Under draft positions for a handful of players, and both Avdija and Toppin are at 4.5. The Under is a -150 favorite for Avdija and the Over is the -190 favorite for Toppin.
Other possibilities for the Bulls: Iowa State point guard Tyrese Haliburton, French point guard Killian Hayes and forwards Patrick Williams of Florida State and Onyeka Okongwu of USC.
There's also the chance the Bulls could trade up to land one of the Big 3, which has been rumored, or trade back. Or that one of the Big 3 falls, although just about no mock drafts have Edwards slipping to fourth.
Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Who will be the No. 4 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft?
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