Don't Walk, Run to Bet Cade Cunningham to Win Rookie of the Year at this Price
By Reed Wallach
The No. 1 pick in the 2021 Draft Cade Cunningham has started to show his promise and it may be calling for a bet on him to win Rookie of the Year?
Before we dive into why Cunningham is a valuable bet to place, here are the odds for the ROY contenders from WynnBET Sportsbook.
NBA Rookie of the Year Odds
- Evan Mobley: -250
- Cade Cunningham: +550
- Scottie Barnes: +600
- Franz Wagner: +1300
- Josh Giddey: +2200
Cunningham Finds Footing
After a slow start to the season, Cunningham's December and January show that he has settled into his role as the lead guard and the injury to Jerami Grant has actually expedited the maturation process for him.
Since the start of December, Cunningham is averaging more than 17 points, nearly five rebounds and nearly six assists. Without Grant, who has been battling an injury and missed all but one game since Dec. 12, Cunningham's usage has ticked up and while it hasn't translated to wins, it's clear that he is primed for a strong second half of the season.
Despite Mobley being the odds on favorite, which is fair given that the Cavaliers have been arguably the best story of the league this season, I believe that Cunningham is a strong bet right now at this price. Remember, this is a media driven award, and the pundits are taking notice of the No. 1 pick.
https://t.co/Pqxh2EPubW - Kia Rookie Ladder: Cade Cunningham rises to No. 1 for 1st time this season
— NBA (@NBA) February 2, 2022
The No. 1 overall pick overtakes Cavs forward Evan Mobley for the top spot after a strong week of action. (via @AschNBA)https://t.co/DgpTVRn38I pic.twitter.com/aab3Du6HmS
Cavs Slide Could Hurt Mobley
However, what if the Cavs slide? Would Mobley still be seen as the overwhelming favorite for the award? Darius Garland has been battling a back injury and the team is devoid of playmakers outside of him after Ricky Rubio tore his ACL at the end of December.
While team success is typically a driver of awards, Rookie of the Year doesn't need as much. It helps, but it's not a deal breaker. For example, Ja Morant was on a sub-.500 team when he hoisted the hardware in the 2019-20 season.
The Pistons will have a worse record than the Cavs, but if the team doesn't keep their level, expect Cunningham's name to keep popping up in this market.
+500 translates to about 16% which is far too low given the emergence of Cunningham. When building your Rookie of the Year portfolio, he is worthy of a bet at this price.
You can find all of Reed's bets HERE!