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Cam Reddish Holds the Key to Betting Duke NBA Draft Props

Sean Deveney for Bookies.com

Sean Deveney  | 4 mins

Cam Reddish Holds the Key to Betting Duke NBA Draft Props

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The shifting odds on Duke wing Cam Reddish reflect something that has been circling among NBA scouts and front offices for the past month or more.

He may have been a disappointment in terms of production in his one season with the Blue Devils, but teams across the league still see Reddish as a valuable young NBA commodity and one of the best players on the board in Thursday’s draft.

For fans of NBA betting, Reddish is the key to the two big Duke plays—whether the team will have three players in the Top 10 and whether it will get three in the Top 5.

We know that Zion Williamson will go first and that teammate R.J. Barrett is likely to go third. It’s becoming clearer that Reddish should land in the Top 10 and the draft futures odds, now at -710, reflect that.

Cam Reddish and the Hawks

Reddish has not been able to work out for teams this month because of a minor core injury, but he did visit with the Hawks on Friday, and for many, the Hawks are considered the floor for Reddish.

Already with an outstanding young point guard, Trae Young, Atlanta is looking for versatile players on the wing, particularly ones who can provide some perimeter defense.

That’s Reddish. One scout compared his skillset to that of Thunder star Paul George. Reddish’s stats at Duke –13.5 points, only 35.6 percent shooting—didn’t reflect those of a future NBA stud, but the scout said, “There was too much Zion and R.J. Barrett on that team, Reddish didn’t get his chances.

Cam Reddish Holds the Key to Betting Duke NBA Draft Props 1
Wendell Carter struggled to get his playing time at Duke, but is thriving in the NBA.

The same thing happened (at Duke) to Wendell Carter last year. But he got to the NBA and showed what he can do. Reddish has a really smooth shot, he is long, he can defend. I think everyone is sort of throwing out that year at Duke and looking at his skills.”

The Hawks have picks No. 8 and 10. A realistic spot for Reddish would be No. 7, where Chicago picks, but if he gets by the Bulls, the Hawks would be almost certain to take him with the eighth pick because he would fit well with the position-less basketball vision of general manager Travis Schlenk.

Reddish is capable of playing shooting guard and small forward, but could even get some time at power forward.

Atlanta could pass on Reddish at No. 8, with an eye on taking him at No. 10. But the Wizards have the ninth pick and, having dumped Otto Porter and Kelly Oubre, have a glaring need at small forward. If there is a spot in this draft that seems to be calling for Reddish, it’s the Hawks at eighth.

A Fourth-Pick Swap Meet?

The question then becomes whether Reddish can jump all the way into the Top 5. It’s unlikely he winds up in the Top 3, where Williamson (to New Orleans), Ja Morant (to Memphis) and Barrett (to New York) have been the presumed 1-2-3 since the lottery was held more than a month ago.

Reddish would have to draw the interest of the Pelicans, who will have the Lakers’ pick at No. 4 as a result of the Anthony Davis trade, or the Cavaliers at No. 5. Cleveland is believed to have interest in Jarrett Culver, Coby White or DeAndre Hunter.

There is the possibility of a trade, and when it comes to getting Reddish into the Top 5, this is the most likely scenario.

New Orleans is loaded in the backcourt and has plenty of wing players following the Davis trade, but is left utterly lacking in frontcourt options.

Because the top players available at No. 4 are all point guards and wings, the Pelicans have been open to trading the fourth pick—and the Hawks, coveting Reddish but afraid the Bulls might take him at No. 7, would be an ideal team for a swap.

Atlanta could send two of the combination of Nos. 8, 10 and 17 picks to the Pelicans for No. 4.

The Hawks have shown they’re not afraid of a draft-day trade, having traded down with Dallas last year. This would be a trade up, but if Reddish is truly their guy, look for Atlanta to explore a deal for the fourth pick and, in the process, put Duke’s trio entirely in the Top 5.

There are a lot of moving pieces involved and draft-day trades often break down. But the Hawks like Reddish and the fourth pick is on the block. The chance for Reddish to move up the board to that spot is there.

About the Author

Sean Deveney for Bookies.com
Sean Deveney
Sean Deveney has covered sports for more than two decades, writing for Sporting News, appearing as a guest on radio shows nationwide and on TV for ESPN, Comcast, CNN and FOX