NBA Draft Odds: Andrew Wiggins favorite No. 1 pick for Cavaliers

Once again, the 2014 National Basketball Association Entry Draft has become all about Canadian phenom Andrew Wiggins.

Wiggins was heralded as the sure-fire No. 1 overall pick at this year’s NBA Draft when he announced he’d play his NBA warmup year with the Kansas Jayhawks. He did nothing to detract from that lofty status with Kansas, being named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year while averaging 16.8 points per game. It was the performances of other players that clouded the forecast for this No. 1 pick.

Sports Interaction NBA Draft Odds

Wiggins’ own Kansas teammate, Joel Embiid, might have easily gone off the board first if it weren’t for a foot injury that required surgery last week. Embiid has a scary mix of size and skill though some worry about how his 7-foot-frame will hold up in the NBA. Some teams picking in the top 10 say they don’t want any part of him now.

Then there’s Jabari Parker, who put up 19.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game last year. Parker is probably a more polished player right now than Wiggins and might make more of an impact early in his NBA career than the Canadian. Down the road might be a different story. There is some speculation that Parker actually prefers to go No. 2 to Milwaukee and may not have been at his best when he was working out for Cleveland.

So, where does that leave Cleveland? Clearly it seems like it’s a choice between Wiggins and Parker and the good news for the Cavs is that there doesn’t appear to be a wrong answer here. Wiggins has the huge upside, while Parker can make an impact immediately.

Wiggins is still the favorite to go first overall. Sports Interaction has his draft position listed at 1.5 with the under at -245. It’s far from the sure thing it was once thought of though.

Another factor the Cavs have to consider is which player can handle the pressure better. Last year the Cavs shocked everybody when they took Anthony Bennett with the top pick and that hasn’t exactly worked out yet. They need to be sure that whomever they pick is able to deal with the scrutiny a No. 1 pick sees on a daily basis. Rumors have surfaced that the Cavs coaching staff prefers Parker while the executive team likes Wiggins.

When it comes down to it, expect Cleveland to take Wiggins. The Cavs want the big name and the huge potential which Wiggins can supply and it doesn’t seem like this team is ready for the playoffs yet anyway. That’s why you go with the player who has the most upside.

Sports Interaction has Wiggins’ points per game odds for his rookie season listed at 17.5.