Previewing Tonight's NBA Draft + 10 of the Day's Best Bets to Watch

In today’s newsletter…

• Leading Off: Previewing tonight’s NBA Draft

• Top 10 Bets: NBA Draft, MLB and golf bets to watch

• Player Profile: Cooper Flagg is set to go No. 1 to the Mavericks

• Matchups: The Red Sox have done well vs. Yusei Kikuchi

• Overtime: The Celtics’ roster teardown continues

The NBA Draft starts tonight, and there is absolutely zero intrigue at the very top. That’s reflected in the odds; Cooper Flagg is -100000 (yes, that’s five zeroes) at FanDuel to go No. 1 overall to the Mavericks. Dylan Harper is -9000 to go second to San Antonio.

After that, it gets intriguing. Here are the favorites for the rest of the top 10:

• 3 (76ers): VJ Edgecombe -340

• 4 (Hornets): Kon Knueppel -180

• 5 (Jazz): Jeremiah Fears +175

• 6 (Wizards): Ace Bailey +130

• 7 (Pelicans): Khaman Maluach +200

• 8 (Nets): Fears +380 (Egor Demin is +600)

• 9 (Raptors): Maluach +260 (Noa Essengue is +310)

• 10 (Suns): Derik Queen +390

Mock draft junkies, here’s a roundup for you: ESPN | CBS | Yahoo

—Patrick Dorsey

Could Ace Bailey Get Picked at No. 3 After All? 

By Jack Dougherty

Ace Bailey No. 3 pick (+600 at DraftKings)
Bailey was a huge favorite to go No. 3 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft just a few weeks ago, but his odds dipped after he canceled a private workout with the Philadelphia 76ers. It’s been a mess of a pre-draft process for Bailey and his team, but you can’t rule out Daryl Morey calling his bluff and drafting him anyway. Bailey is a professional bucket-getter with more upside than anyone in this class not named Cooper Flagg. The Sixers could be keeping their interest in him a secret. Plus, another team could move up to steal a clear top-three talent in this draft. 

Yanic Konan Niederhauser to be drafted in the first round (+100 at DraftKings)
The NBA draft is all about upside after the first 15-20 picks, and Konan Niederhauser is overflowing with potential. The 7-footer is an explosive athlete who dunks everything at the rim and has the potential to become one of the top bench shot-blockers in the NBA. His athleticism jumps off the screen when you watch him play, and that was especially true at the NBA draft combine. Teams are always looking for athletic big men who can protect the paint, finish lobs and rim-run in transition.

MLB

Brewers moneyline (-105 at BetMGM)
It’s never fun to bet against Paul Skenes, but the Brewers shouldn’t be home underdogs in this matchup. For as dominant as Skenes has been this season, the Pirates are still just 8-8 in his 16 starts. Over the last two weeks, Milwaukee is batting .293 with a .797 OPS and a 119 wRC+ against right-handed pitching. Pittsburgh has a .595 OPS, a 64 wRC+ and a league-worst 0.080 ISO against righties in that same span, and Jacob Misiorowski has given up only one hit in his first 11 MLB innings. 

Red Sox over 3.5 runs (-156 at FanDuel)
This is the perfect setup for a big offensive game from the Red Sox. Boston ranks second in MLB in OPS (.888), ISO (.215) and wRC+ (143) against left-handed pitching this month, and this lineup has crushed Yusei Kikuchi in the past. In 76 plate appearances against Kikuchi, Red Sox hitters have a .322 xBA, a .586 xSLG and a .414 xwOBA. Even if Boston doesn’t jump on Kikuchi early, the Angels have the third-highest bullpen ERA in baseball (5.14).

Joe Ryan over 4.5 hits allowed (-135 at DraftKings)
Ryan has gone under this line in eight of his last 10 starts, but this is a tough matchup for the right-hander. In 48 plate appearances against Ryan, Mariners hitters are batting a ridiculous .409 with a .577 xSLG. Seattle also has the third-highest batting average (.313) and the highest OPS (.943) against righties over the last week, and five of its six games in that span were on the road. 

Gavin Williams over 4.5 strikeouts (-120 at DraftKings)
The Blue Jays are one of the stingiest teams in MLB in terms of strikeouts, but Williams can still succeed in this matchup. The Guardians right-hander has an impressive 42.3% strikeout rate in his career against Toronto hitters, and he racked up nine Ks in only 4.0 innings of work in his start against the Blue Jays earlier this season. Williams has also been much better at forcing swings and misses at home this season, as he’s gone over this line in six of his eight home starts.

Golf: Rocket Classic

Patrick Cantlay top-20 finish (-110 at DraftKings)
Cantlay has notched four top-20 finishes in his last six starts, and he typically flourishes at these types of tournaments. Over his last 11 starts on easy scoring courses in weak or average fields, Cantlay has eight top-10 finishes and an average finish of 14th. The American has only one career start at Detroit Golf Club, but he finished runner-up to Tony Finau in 2022. He should be a bigger favorite to land inside the top 20. 

Cam Davis top-20 finish (+330 at DraftKings)
This price is simply too high for Davis, who absolutely loves Detroit Golf Club. In his last four starts at the Rocket Classic, Davis has two wins and two more top-20 finishes. The Australian has been erratic with his irons and putter this season, but a return to Detroit Golf Club should be exactly what he needs to get back on track. He’s gained strokes on approach in four straight starts here and gained strokes from putting in three of those four. 

Aldrich Potgieter top African player (+230 at FanDuel)
Longer hitters love Detroit Golf Club because it’s quite easy to bomb and gouge their way around this place. The driving windows are wide and the rough isn’t very thick, so bombers have a huge advantage here if they can have a good week with their wedges and putter. That brings us to Potgieter, who leads the PGA Tour in driving distance and ranks fifth in strokes gained from off the tee. He finished T2 on a similar layout at the Mexico Open earlier this season, and he’s coming off a T6 finish in his last start. There are only three other Africans in the field this week, so Potgieter’s upside is worth a look in this market. 

Stephan Jaeger top-40 finish (-105 at DraftKings)
Jaeger isn’t in the best form right now, but this is a good setup for him on a golf course that suits his game. The German’s biggest issue this year has been his driving accuracy, but that won’t hurt him as much at Detroit Golf Club. He finished T9 at the Rocket Classic in 2023 and solo fifth in 2022, ranking better than the field average in driving accuracy both weeks. We’ll play it safe with a top-40 bet, but don’t be surprised if Jaeger contends for a win.

Cooper Flagg (-100000) Is Set To Go No. 1 Overall To the Dallas Mavericks

Name: Cooper Flagg
Team: Duke Blue Devils
Position: Forward
Draft Odds: No. 1 pick (-100000 at FanDuel), No. 2 pick (+20000), No. 3 pick (+20000)
2024-25 Stats: 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, 1.4 steals, 48.1 FG%, 38.5 3P%

Past 5 No. 1 Picks

• 2024: Zaccharie Risacher (Hawks)

• 2023: Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)

• 2022: Paolo Banchero (Magic)

• 2021: Cade Cunningham (Pistons)

• 2020: Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)

Player Profile

• Flagg is seen as a generational talent, with The Ringer calling him “the most well-rounded prospect in recent memory, with the fire and focus for more.” Kevin Pelton’s projection system at ESPN ranks him as the third-best prospect since 2005, behind only Zion Williamson and Luka Doncic. A true two-way standout, he should fit in seamlessly in Dallas alongside All-NBA candidate Anthony Davis, rising big man Dereck Lively II and the recently extended Daniel Gafford.

Ceddanne Rafaela Is 1 of 3 Red Sox Players With Good Success vs. Yusei Kikuchi

• Ceddanne Rafaela (Red Sox) vs. Yusei Kikuchi (Angels): 4-7, 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 K

• Dylan Moore (Mariners) vs. Joe Ryan (Twins): 4-7, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 K

• Rob Refsnyder (Red Sox) vs. Yusei Kikuchi (Angels): 6-13, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K

• Matt Wallner (Twins) vs. George Kirby (Mariners) 3-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 K

• Jung Hoo Lee (Giants) vs. Edward Cabrera (Mariners): 3-5, 1 BB

• Randy Arozarena (Mariners) vs. Joe Ryan (Twins): 3-6, 1 2B, 1 K

• DJ LeMahieu (Yankees) vs. Brady Singer (Reds): 3-6, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K

• JJ Bleday (Athletics) vs. Jack Flaherty (Tigers): 3-6, 1 RBI, 1 K

• Christian Walker (Astros) vs. Zack Wheeler (Phillies): 10-24, 4 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 8 K

• Julio Rodriguez (Mariners) vs. Joe Ryan (Twins): 4-9, 2 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K

• Connor Wong (Red Sox) vs. Yusei Kikuchi (Angels): 4-9, 1 2B, 2 BB, 1 K

• Aaron Judge (Yankees) vs. Brady Singer (Reds): 5-13, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K

• Jesus Sanchez (Marlins) vs. Logan Webb (Giants): 4-10, 2 2B, 1 RBI

• Yandy Diaz (Rays) vs. Michael Wacha (Royals): 3-8, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 1 K

• Alex Verdugo (Braves) vs. Clay Holmes (Mets): 3-8, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 2 K

• Will Castro (Twins) vs. George Kirby (Mariners): 3-9, 2 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 4 K

In the News 

• The Celtics’ roster teardown continued Tuesday, this time with the trading of Kristaps Porzingis.

• Jordan Poole is off to the Pelicans in what CBS Sports calls an iffy deal for New Orleans.

• The Fever’s DeWanna Bonner reportedly wants out of Indiana.

• Get ready for the Aaron Rodgers farewell tour (probably).

What to Watch (times are ET)

• 7:10pm: Yankees vs. Reds on Prime Video

• 8pm: 2025 NBA Draft on ESPN/ABC

• 9pm: Inter Milan vs. River Plate in the Club World Cup on TNT/truTV/DAZN

Photo of the Day