The Detroit Pistons raised a few eyebrows in June with their first pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. At No. 5, the team with the leagueās worst record this past season took Ron Holland, an 18-year-old who eschewed college basketball and played with the G League Ignite, a team consisting of draft prospects.
At BetMichigan.com, your source for the best Michigan sports betting promo codes, weāve traded a basketball for a crystal ball and looked to see how Holland will fare in Motown. The odds we list below are for infotainment purposes only. They are not available on any licensed Michigan betting app, such as the BetRivers Michigan sportsbook.
| NBA All-Star Appearances | Odds | Pct. Chance |
| Over 0.5 | +135 | 42.6% |
| Under 0.5 | -135 | 57.4% |
Thereās no doubt Holland, a 6-foot-8 wing, is a talented player. He averaged 19.5 points and 6.7 rebounds in 29 games last season against older players. However, many mock drafts had Holland as a lower lottery pick. The Ringerās Kevin OāConnor had him going to the Sacramento Kings with the 13th pick. NBA.com analysts listed him as the 12th-best player available, though some of their pundits felt he could go in the top 10.
If youāre looking for actual odds on the 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year Award, BetMGM Michigan Sportsbook offers Holland at +1400. DraftKings lists him at +1500.
Both operators make Alex Sarr, picked second overall by the Washington Wizards, as their favorite, with odds of +425 and +450, respectively.
| Player | Odds |
| Alex Sarr (Wizards) | +350 |
| Zaccharie Risacher (Hawks) | +450 |
| Stephon Castle (Spurs) | +700 |
| Zach Edey (Grizzlies) | +1100 |
| Tidjane Salaun (Hornets) | +1200 |
| Reed Sheppard (Rockets) | +1200 |
| Donovan Clingan (Trail Blazers) | +1200 |
| Dalton Knecht (Lakers) | +1200 |
| Cody Williams (Jazz) | +1400 |
| Ron Holland (Pistons) | +1500 |
Odds at Michigan sportsbooks are up for the 2024-25 NBA season.
While OāConnor pegged Holland as a much lower pick, his The Ringer colleague Danny Chau gave the Pistons a B-plus for taking a āgambleā on the versatile player.
āHolland is arguably the best pure athlete in the draft, and perhaps the prospect with the highest ceiling outside of Sarr,ā Chau wrote. āHe has the burst, the speed, and the vertical explosion (and hangtime) to be a high-level defensive playmaker at the next levelābut maybe most important, he has the want-to.ā
Customers at Michigan sports betting apps will want to keep an eye on the Pistons as they try to claw their way out of the NBAās cellar.
Holland comes to a rebuilding Detroit team that just brought in a new team president, Trajan Langdon, and a new coach, J.B. Bickerstaff. Monty Williams was let go after one year as coach and Bickerstaff led a rebuilding process in Cleveland, greatly aided by the trade for Donovan Mitchell. The Cavaliers went 22-50 under Bickerstaff during his first season there in 2020-21, but the team played above .500 the remaining seasons and reached the playoffs the past two years.
Chau noted the Pistons also brought in Fred Vinson as a shooting coach, and Holland will likely benefit from working with Vinson as he seeks to improve his free throw and spot-up shooting.
Oddsmakers do not entertain any thought of the Pistons being playoff contenders this season. Caesars Michigan Sportsbook lists Detroit at +30000 just to win a loaded NBA Central Division that includes the Cavs, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks.
USA Today photo by Brad Penner
Ron Holland has joined the Detroit Pistons after they selected him fifth overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. Before that, he played for the G League Ignite team.
The Detroit Pistons chose Ron Holland with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. This was a surprise to many analysts, as Holland wasn't projected to be picked that high.
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Steve is an accomplished, award-winning reporter with more than 20 years of experience covering gaming, sports, politics and business. He has written for the Associated Press, Reuters, The Louisville Courier Journal, The Center Square and numerous other publications. Based in Louisville, Ky., Steve has covered the expansion of sports betting in the U.S. and other gaming matters.
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