The 2023 NBA Draft is rapidly approaching, but we already know that French superstar Victor Wembanyama will be selected as the No. 1 overall pick (-10000) by the Spurs. However, after Wembanyama is officially announced as the top pick, the draft really begins with the Hornets and the No. 2 overall pick.
The Hornets are in a unique position, as they hold the keys to how the top five of the NBA Draft could play out. Charlotte could select former University of Alabama standout Brandon Miller to solidify their wing position or take G League Ignite star guard Scoot Henderson to pair with All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball. It's a best-of-both-worlds situation for the Hornets, who missed out on the Play-In Tournament this past season but could add an impact contributor to play next to Ball for years to come.
There's also a possibility the Hornets could move this pick. The Pelicans are reportedly interested in trading up for Henderson and would potentially consider moving Zion Williamson to make it happen, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. However, Stein added in his newsletter that a source tells him they don't believe the Hornets would risk acquiring Williamson.
Below, we'll look at Henderson and Miller's latest odds to be selected with the No. 2 overall pick and see who the public believes will hear their name called after Wembanyama.
2023 NBA Draft Betting Odds: No. 2 overall pick
Odds courtesy of BetMGM, an Authorized Gaming Operator of the NBA. Click HERE to sign up!
| Player | Odds |
| Scoot Henderson | -275 |
| Brandon Miller | +175 |
| Victor Wembanyama | +10000 |
| Amen Thompson | +12500 |
| Ausar Thompson | +12500 |
| Jarace Walker | +12500 |
| Terquavion Smith | +25000 |
| Anthony Black | +12500 |
| Cam Whitmore | +12500 |
| Nick Smith Jr. | +15000 |
| Gradey Dick | +15000 |
| Carson Wallace | +25000 |
| Keyonte George | +15000 |
| Dariq Whitehead | +15000 |
| Kyle Filipowski | +25000 |
| Kris Murray | +25000 |
| Jett Howard | +25000 |
| Gregory Jackson | +25000 |
| Brice Sensabaugh | +25000 |
| Maxwell Lewis | +25000 |
| Rayan Rupert | +25000 |
2023 NBA Draft No. 2 Overall Pick Odds: Favorites
Scoot Henderson (-275). Last week, Henderson had the second-best odds (+160) to be selected with the No. 2 pick. However, in a surprising turn of events, the G League Ignite star has leapfrogged Miller and is now the favorite (-225) just days before Thursday's NBA draft. Miller and Henderson were both in Charlotte on Monday for a second round of visits and workouts. The 19-year-old point guard spent two seasons with G League Ignite where he was able to hone his skills and develop into a potential lottery pick.
According to Jonathan Givony, Henderson had a highly impressive workout with the Hornets a couple of weeks ago, showcasing a multitude of skills. This past season with Ignite, the 6-4 point guard recorded 16.5 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game. Henderson was a starter this past season after coming off the bench in the previous season. The Georgia native is now receiving 43.6 percent of the tickets and 58 percent of the handle. Bettors missed out on a good opportunity last week when Henderson was still at plus-money for the No. 2 pick.
Even though Miller would fill a need, you could make the case that Scoot is the best player available and give Charlotte a dynamic, young backcourt for years to come. Terry Rozier is 29 and has three years left on his contract, but Charlotte could move him to a contender as they continue their rebuild. It will be interesting to see if the books got it right with Henderson as the No. 2 pick, or if they will be on the losing end with Miller being the pick for Charlotte.
Brandon Miller (+175). With Henderson as the favorite, Miller has the second-best odds to go second overall in Thursday's NBA draft. The 20-year-old forward is receiving 18.6 percent of the tickets and 36.7 percent of the handle, according to BetMGM Insights. Miller was one of the best players in college basketball last year (18.8 ppg, 82 rpg, 2.1 apg on 43/38.4/85.9 splits) when he led the Crimson Tide to a No. 1 seed, though serious off-court issues marred his otherwise standout regular season.
However, Miller struggled in the NCAA Tournament, only scoring in double figures once (19 points vs. Maryland). He scored 9.3 points per game on 19.5 percent shooting from the field and 15.8 percent from three-point range. Despite his on-court struggles in the tournament, Miller's upside makes him a solid contender to be the No. 2 overall pick.
Jeremy Woo and Jonathan Givony have Miller going to Charlotte at No. 2 overall in their latest mock draft and mentioned that his "clean roster fit" and long-term talent are key sticking points. With the Hornets looking to add a premier player to their core, bettors wouldn't be wrong to consider placing a wager on Miller -- but that's assuming the Hornets keep the pick. At +175 odds, there's still good value that bettors will get in return, but we also should get prepared for Miller to be selected with the No. 3 pick (-225).