Number 2 Pick of the 2023 NBA Draft 

The 2023 NBA Draft is coming up on Thursday and it’s time to dive into one of the biggest debates. Will Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller be the 2nd overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft? The Charlotte Hornets have the Number 2 pick right now and NBA mock draft predictions seem to be split on which player will be the selection. At least, we know Victor Wembanyama will be the first overall pick for the San Antonio Spurs. If you missed it, check out a full Victor Wembanyama NBA Draft profile and betting odds. Things get interesting after Wemby, though, with Hornets deciding between Henderson and Miller or possibly trading the pick away. In this article, we’ll break down the 2023 NBA Draft odds for the second overall pick and discuss NBA Draft best bets before Thursday’s first round gets underway. Click here or any of the links in this article to join BetMGM Sportsbook and place your own NBA Draft bets. 

 

2023 NBA Draft: Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller for the #2 pick

After Victor Wembanyama is the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the No. 2 pick will come down to two players. The top NBA Draft prospects projected to be in the mix for that second-overall pick are Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller. The Charlotte Hornets are slated to draft second but, of course, they could trade the pick away to another interested team. Even if the pick does get traded, it’s a near-certainty that the No. 2 pick will be either Henderson or Miller. 

Scoot Henderson is a 19-year-old point guard who played for G League Ignite last season in the NBA G League. Instead of going the college basketball route, Henderson opted to sign with the Ignite out of high school and gain pro experience ahead of the NBA Draft. He's an explosive and athletic lead guard who is a highlight waiting to happen in the backcourt. Henderson finishes well at the rim and is a ferocious dunker who plays with a chip on his shoulder, much like Russell Westbrook. At 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, Henderson is a bigger-bodied point guard who can also be an active defender with quick reactions on the other side of the floor. 

Brandon Miller is a 20-year-old small forward/wing who enters the NBA with plenty of hype. As a freshman at Alabama this past season, Miller was a first-team All-American and the National Freshman of the Year while averaging 18.8 PPG. He also anchored the Crimson Tide to a No. 1 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Miller is a natural scorer and playmaker from the wing and has a versatile game. He can drain from deep (38% three-point shooter last season) and finish strong around the rim at 6-foot-9 and 200 pounds. Miller is even a talented passer at his size and showed he can be an active defender at the next level. 

 

2023 NBA Draft 2nd overall pick odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook

Now that we broke down Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller as top NBA Draft prospects, let's look at the betting odds for the 2nd overall pick in Thursday's draft. On BetMGM Sportsbook as of this writing, Scoot Henderson is the slight favorite at -155 to be the second pick. Brandon Miller is at +115 odds to be the second pick. This means if you bet $10 on Brandon Miller to be the second pick, then you can win $11.50 for a total payout of $21.50. 

Here are the top 2023 NBA Draft betting odds for the 2nd pick, according to BetMGM. 

  • Scoot Henderson -155
  • Brandon Miller +115
  • Victor Wembanyama +10000
  • Amen Thompson +12500
  • Ausar Thompson +12500
  • Cam Whitmore +12500
  • Jarace Walker +12500
  • Anthony Black +12500

If you want to wager on the 2023 NBA Draft, sign up for a new account at BetMGM Sportsbook and place your basketball bets now. You can bet on Scoot Henderson, Brandon Miller, or anyone else to be the No. 2 pick in this year's NBA Draft.

 

2023 NBA Draft best bet for the 2nd overall pick: Scoot Henderson -155 

So which direction should we go when placing NBA Draft bets for the second overall pick, Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller? Before getting into our best bet, let's first discuss the Charlotte Hornets situation. The Hornets could potentially trade this pick away for a team willing to move up and draft Henderson or Miller. There have been NBA trade rumors floating around recently that Charlotte may be interested in trading their No. 2 pick to acquire a star to play next to LaMelo Ball. The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly shopping Zion Williamson and may be looking to move up to the second overall pick. 

If the Hornets stand pat with the 2nd pick, though, you can make the argument for either Henderson or Miller as a great selection there. On the one hand, Miller would complement LaMelo Ball better as a wing scorer/playmaker while allowing Ball to continue running the offense. However, Henderson joining Ball in the backcourt could give Charlotte one of the best young guard duos for years to come. Plus, Scoot's presence on the squad would provide the Hornets some insurance if Ball's injury problems return next season or down the line. Miller may fit onto the Charlotte roster better right away, but Henderson projects to be one of the league's best guards for potentially the next 10 years. He'd also be the favorite to go No. 1 overall if Victor Wembanyama wasn't in this draft class. 

Our NBA Draft best bet for the second overall pick is on Scoot Henderson at -155 on BetMGM Sportsbook. If you want to place your own 2023 NBA Draft betting picks, click here to create a new account at BetMGM and take advantage of a great sign-up bonus offer for new users. 

 

Bet on the NBA Draft at BetMGM with their “First Bet Paid Back” bonus offer

If you haven't already, click here to create a new account at BetMGM Sportsbook. You can bet on 2023 NBA Draft odds and plenty of other sports events at BetMGM once you sign up and take advantage of BetMGM's “First Bet Paid Back" bonus offer. This BetMGM promo gives new users up to $1,000 paid back in bonus bets if your first bet doesn't win. Just create a new account by clicking here or any of the links in this article to get started. Make your first deposit and place an initial wager up to $1,000 on the 2023 NBA Draft or any other sporting event. If your bet wins, you'll be paid out as normal. If your first bet loses, then BetMGM will credit you back in bonus bets equal to your initial wager up to $1,000. So get started at BetMGM Sportsbook today and place your 2023 NBA Draft betting picks with this awesome sign-up offer.