Gary Harris has agreed to a two-year, $26 million extension with the Orlando Magic. Harris agreed to the extension hours before the start of the 22-23 league year in which he would have been an unrestricted free agent.
The Magic traded for Harris in 2021 as part of the Aaron Gordon deal.
Mo Bamba and the Orlando Magic have agreed to a two-year, $21 million deal.
Bamba was a lottery pick by the Magic in 2018.
Bamba is represented by Mark Bartelstein and Greer Love, Jr.
The Orlando Magic are the favorites to sign Isaiah Hartenstein, sources told Marc Stein.
Hartenstein averaged 8.3 points and 4.9 rebounds last season with the Clippers.
The news of interest in Hartenstein comes on the heels of the Magic deciding not to tender a qualifying offer for Mo Bamba.
The Orlando Magic are considering Paolo Banchero at No. 1 overall despite being strongly linked to Jabari Smith since the lottery, and is now considered the "frontrunner."
Oddsmakers dramatically improved the odds for Banchero to go first throughout the week.
For several weeks, the projected draft order has been Smith to the Magic at No. 1, Chet Holmgren to the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 2 and Banchero to the Houston Rockets at No. 3.
The order of the top-3 picks in the 2022 NBA Draft is "increasingly firm" hours before it begins on Thursday evening with Jabari Smith going to the Orlando Magic at No. 1, Chet Holmgren to the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 2 and Paolo Banchero to the Houston Rockets at No. 3.
Smith has been consistently connected to the Magic at No. 1 since they won the lottery in May. But Banchero surged past Smith to emerge Thursday morning as the consensus betting favorite for the No. 1 pick, before sportsbooks removed odds from their boards.
"It's the weirdest draft market I think I've ever booked," Eric Fenstermaker, a veteran Nevada bookmaker, told ESPN's David Purdum on Wednesday.
Most draft observers believe the first uncertainity will come with the Sacramento Kings selecting at No. 4 as they could move out of the selection.
There hasn’t been this much unknown at the top of the NBA Draft since 2017, when the Philadelphia 76ers opted for Washington guard Markelle Fultz over Lonzo Ball and Jayson Tatum. Whether the Orlando Magic opt for Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren or Paolo Banchero with the top pick on Thursday night at the Barclays Center in New York should provide plenty of intrigue, surprises and trades.
It should also provide plenty of winnable betting opportunities for RealGM bettors. It’s the first NBA Draft since New York sports betting went live, meaning people can live bet while watching the event unfold.
Sports betting apps everywhere have uploaded hundreds of different NBA Draft odds—from top pick to whether a player will be drafted in the first round to which player certain teams will take with their first selection. So, while you’re tuned in Thursday night to see where this year’s class is headed, consider placing bets on our favorite 2022 NBA Draft odds.
For starters, here’s a look at the top pick odds from BetMGM. A reminder, the BetMGM bonus code REALGM unlocks a $1,000 risk-free first bet.
| Player | Odds |
| Jabari Smith | -200 |
| Paolo Banchero | +240 |
| Chet Holmgren | +325 |
| Shadeon Sharpe | +10000 |
| Jaden Ivey | +20000 |
Odds: -120 at Caesars Sportsbook
RealGM readers know all about Johnny Davis, the 6-foot-5 All-American from Wisconsin who can score at all three levels. He may not have the freakish athleticism or length of some of the prospects in his tier, but there’s something to be said for his scoring prowess and defensive ability.
NBA coaching will improve his 3-point shooting, and we believe he’s one of the most NBA-ready players in this class. Teams like the Pelicans (8th), Spurs (9th), and Wizards (10th) are all trying to win now. One will take a shot on Davis’ potential. Keep in mind that the Caesars Sportsbook promo code REALGM15 delivers a risk-free first bet up to $1,500, so you have some insurance if you are a new bettor.
Odds: +550 at BetRivers
Let’s get wild with our second bet. This is obviously one that you should place less money on than the others, but it’d be lucrative if it wound up hitting. And with the BetRivers promo code offer matching your first deposit up to $250, you could use free bet credit here.
Here’s the logic as of this writing: The Magic are likely going with Jabari Smith at No. 1, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are always an enormous wild card. GM Sam Presti always has something up his sleeve. So, whether he believes Jaden Ivey is the next Russell Westbrook, or that Paolo Banchero’s playmaking ability could make him a miniature version of LeBron James, we’re not sold on Chet Holmgren at No. 2 just yet.
Of course, the team drafting third (currently Houston) would swoop Holmgren up in an instant. The most likely outcome is Holmgren becoming the next Thunder project, but we have a feeling that’s not a lock.
Odds: -160 at Caesars Sportsbook
We love what Jeremy Sochan brings to an NBA team — he’s a heady player who plays downhill and can guard multiple positions. But he also shot just 30% from deep and he’s not a significant playmaker. That’s less of a knock on his talent and more an indication that he may hear his name called toward the later stages of the Lottery.
The top seven or eight picks seem locked in, leaving just a few slots for Sochan to jump up into the top-11 and go under here. We’ll grab these odds from Caesars and play the over.
Odds: -130 at FanDuel
Sometimes the obvious pick is the right one. That’s true for NBA general managers and sports bettors. This year’s class is top-heavy with three bigs in Jabari Smith, Banchero and Holmgren. It gets a bit cloudy after that, but most agree that Purdue guard Jaden Ivey is the fourth best prospect in the class. The Kings currently own the fourth pick and should take the best player available. And if Sacramento does trade out, a team trading up to 4 would take the top prospect. That’s Ivey.
Odds: -170 at DraftKings
Duke wings know a thing or two about success at the NBA level. After breaking out as a junior for the Blue Devils — Moore averaged 13.4 points on 50% shooting and better than 41% from deep—we think he’s a first-round lock. He has reportedly impressed in workouts and is still just 20 years old despite playing three seasons at Duke.
Wings matter in the league, and Moore’s 7-foot wingspan is screaming potential. This isn’t an overly deep class, so the boxes that Moore checks (elite program, production, length, NBA-ready) will matter at the end of Round 1. We think he could go as early as No. 20 to San Antonio. Regardless of where he winds up, it will be long before the 31st pick is called.
Odds: -130 at Caesars Sportsbook
E.J. Liddell is a rock-solid prospect who averaged 2.6 blocks per game as a junior. He also made 37% of his shots from beyond the arc. That combination from a player who will turn 22 a few months into his NBA career screams second unit forward for a championship contender.
We’re looking at Memphis (22), Philadelphia (23), Milwaukee (24) and Miami (27) as potential landing spots. Note that none of those slots are before 21. He’s an older prospect and doesn’t have outstanding athleticism. He’s a high floor guy but not necessarily a high ceiling prospect. Somewhere in the mid-20s feels right.
Mark Strotman
Chet Holmgren and his camp are believed to prefer him end up with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who select at second overall.
The view from Holmgren is that the Thunder have a stronger infrastructure to support his development. Holmgren has only cooperated with the Orlando Magic and Thunder during the predraft process.
The Magic are widely expected to select Jabari Smith at No. 1.
Paolo Banchero's odds to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft went from +950 to +400 on Monday, according to FanDuel.
Banchero saw movement in several other sportsbooks on Monday. Banchero opened at +1600 to be the top pick at SuperBook Sports before moving to +400, reported Matt Moore of Action Network.
BetMGM, who also had Banchero at +1600 on Sunday, currently have him at +400 to be the top selection.
Magic general manager Jeff Weltman admitted on Monday that the team is still evaluating its candidates for the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Jabari Smith is widely expected to go with the first or second overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft. That's an opinion Smith shares himself.
During a meeting with reporters from around the NBA, Smith said he only worked out for and visited with the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder. Those teams have the first and second picks, respectively. The Auburn product said he doesn't see himself going any later than second, so he limited his visits to just the Magic and Thunder.
Smith had praise for both organizations. He said he appreciates how hard the Magic play, while complimenting Sam Presti's vision in leading the Thunder's rebuild.
Jabari Smith admitted that he was nervous following his workout for the Orlando Magic on Thursday.
“Coming into it, I was nervous," said Smith. "But everybody talking to me and getting me through it just kind of relaxed me a little bit. And then, just have some fun with it — that’s what I tried to do.”
Several Magic players appeared at the workout, including Cole Anthony, Mo Bamba and Jonathan Isaac.
Smith averaged 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in his freshman season at Auburn.
Smith said that he could see himself fitting in with the Magic roster.
“Seeing the guys and seeing the players, this is a young team, one of the youngest in the league. So, adding me would just add another young player who was hungry and got a lot left in the tank. So, I’ll add some energy and just another person wants to come in and work and get this organization where it needs to be," said Smith.
Smith will also workout for the Thunder.
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