One of the more intriguing storylines entering Thursday night’s NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn was whether or not Philadelphia 76ers point guard/power forward Ben Simmons was going to be traded.
Simmons remains in Philadelphia and the trade watch continues for PA sports bettors.
With a player draft still to participate in, the Sixers selected Tennessee guard Jaden Springer with the 28th pick of the first round. A late first-round pick didn’t have much effect on betting markets for those online gambling in PA.
The 6-foot-4 guard from Charlotte, North Carolina, led the Volunteers in scoring at 12.5 points per game to go with 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game this past season as a freshman. He earned Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman honors.
In the second round, the Sixers chose 6-foot-11 Serbian power forward/center Filip Petrusev with the 50th pick and chose 6-foot-11 center Western Kentucky junior Charles Bassey with the 53rd pick. The Sixers bought the 53rd pick from the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday morning for $2 million.
How Was Sports Betting Affected?
So without a big trade splash and with no “WOW” picks in the draft, how did this affect the Sixers value on some sports betting markets for the upcoming season, and who are the current suitors for Simmons’ services?
Currently DraftKings PA Sportsbook lists the Sixers +1600 to capture the NBA title in 2021-22 and also lists complete odds on where Simmons might end up next season.
The Portland Trail Blazers lead the top five destinations for Simmons at +450. The Washington Wizards are a close second at +500 with the Sixers retaining the four-year starter at +525. The Toronto Raptors (+650) and Minnesota Timberwolves (+1000) round out the top five.
Right after the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA title this season, BetMGM PA Sportsbook opened the Sixers’ line to win the NBA Championship next season at +1600 and it has remained at that number since with no movement.
New Jersey-based Tipico Sportsbook lists the Sixers at +1500 to win next season’s NBA title.
Pennsylvania sports betting had a total handle of $420.2 million in June, putting it behind New Jersey and Nevada nationally with Illinois still having to report June wagering figures.
