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The 2021 NBA Draft will take place Thursday, July 29 at 8:00 p.m. ET in Brooklyn, New York. This will officially begin the offseason for the 2021-22 season, which is scheduled to start October 19 as the league attempts to return to a normal season.
This will be the first draft since the inaugural event to be held in July, due to the shortened 2020-21 regular season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Detroit Pistons hold the first pick in the draft and are expected to select Oklahoma State star Cade Cunningham, although the team has explored trade options. The Houston Rockets, which made a blockbuster deal during the season by trading James Harden, enters a rebuild with the No. 2 overall selection. There’s speculation the Rockets will pick Jalen Green from the NBA G-League, but USC star Evan Mobley is also an option. The Cleveland Cavaliers round out the top three selections.
Cunningham has the best odds to be select No. 1 overall at -8000. As the heavy favorite, it’s surprising the line hasn’t moved much considering there are reports the Pistons are considering their options. Those options being Cunningham, Green and Mobley. Green is +1500 to go first while Mobley is +2500.