Wiggins Signing Sends Kansas March Madness Betting Odds Soaring
Andrew Wiggins was a big deal in high school basketball and will be a big deal in the NBA.
As it turns out, he’s such a big deal in college basketball that his decision to play in Kansas completely changed the betting odds for the 2013-14 season.
One sportsbook even declined to post March Madness 2014 future odds until Wiggins signed. When he did sign this week, they opened the Jayhawks as the second betting choice just behind Kentucky (at 5-1).
Another had Kansas at 30-1 last week on the heels of losing all four of last season’s starters, but that same shop had Kansas at 10-1 this morning.
“We were waiting on him to sign before opening these odds up,” said Kevin Bradley of Bovada sportsbook.
“He is the biggest impact player we have seen in a long time and he is an immediate difference maker on college basketball future odds.”
The Toronto-born Wiggins played basketball at a Huntington, West Va school this year. He was the 2013 Naismith Prep Player of the Year and the 2013 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
Wiggins, the son of former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins, was believed to be headed to Florida State—where his father played. His brother Nick plays at Wichita State and Kansas could now be headed to the Final Four just like WSU did this past March.
Bovada also made him the early favorite to be picked No. 1 in the 2014 NBA draft. He was sitting at -300 this morning. Bookies also posted odds on how many points per game he will average as a Jayhawk.
“To go to 10-1 from 30-1 on one teenager signing is not something you see every day,” said Mark Presley of OddsShark.com. “It’s good for business when the marquee schools are threats to win it all and when those schools enjoy the marquee talent.”
Defending national champions Louisville was the third betting choice while perennial Final Four threat Michigan State was fourth.
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NCAA Basketball Preseason Top 25 Rankings 2013: Post-Andrew Wiggins Signing
Please note in history that May 14 was the day that Andrew Wiggins announced his college decision, and ALLOWED THE REST OF US TO GO ON WITH OUR LIVES!!!
Oh and also make a preseason top 25 that was not full of “well if Wiggins goes here, then so and so will go on to world domination.”
Kansas won the Wiggins’ sweepstakes and the reward is a climb into the top 10 and wildly increased expectations.
Your reward for making it through what felt like the longest recruitment of all time is a brand spanking new 2013-14 preseason top 25.
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Duke announces signing of recruit Jabari Parker (Yahoo! Sports)
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Top recruit Jabari Parker has signed his letter of intent to play at Duke.
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New York Knicks Make Mistake In Signing Quentin Richardson
Just when you thought that the New York Knicks were entering the playoffs with a set roster, GM Glen Grunwald appears to have had other ideas and thus made a mistake. In a move that nobody saw coming, per Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York, the team has signed forward Quentin Richardson for the rest of the season. Richardson [...]
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Ranking Top 25 Recruiting Classes at Start of NCAA Basketball’s Signing Period
NCAA basketball recruiting is into the final stretch, with only a handful of prospects uncommitted after National Signing Day. With almost every big name in the books (sorry, Andrew Wiggins), it’s time to assess the biggest winners of the recruiting season.
One surprise standout this year was LSU, where Johnny Jones is getting his coaching tenure off to a roaring start. McDonald’s All-American Jarell Martin highlights a class that will reshape the Tiger frontcourt and give the SEC plenty to worry about.
Herein, a closer look at Jones’ impressive showing and the rest of the 25 most power-packed recruiting classes in the nation.
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Juwan Howard Signing is Underrated Key to Miami Heat’s Title Defense
Just because the Miami Heat are the hottest team in the NBA doesn’t mean that they aren’t looking to improve. According to the Associated Press, the team has agreed to terms with forward Juwan Howard on a 10-day contract.
While this isn’t the kind of move that will shake up the roster, or shift the paradigm of what the Heat do, it is a savvy move that will pay dividends down the stretch.
With a roster spot open, the 10-day deal could be the beginning of a deal that would have Howard join the team for the rest of the season. Considering the role that Howard played on last year’s title team, that’s a move that should be welcomed by the team’s fanbase.
Sure, Howard doesn’t contribute on the floor like he once did. Even as part of last season’s championship squad, he only averaged 6.8 minutes, 1.5 points and 1.7 rebounds per game.However, the Heat don’t need much extra production.
After all, they are in the middle of a league-best 13-game win streak. Free-agent acquisition Chris Andersen has provided the depth that the team’s frontcourt desperately needed and LeBron James has been, well, he’s been LeBron James. There’s not much Howard can do on the court to make this team any better.
However, team president Pat Riley realizes what Howard brings to the table—experience and a veteran savvy that make him a great player to have in practice and on the bench. Riley talked about those qualities when explaining the move to Yahoo Sports:
Juwan is a key part of the championship culture here in Miami… He is essential to this team and can still play this game at a high level in some of our biggest games yet to come. He has a unique veteran savvy and will provide leadership and experience to our team
This is a great move for Miami because Howard is a familiar face who the organization can be comfortable adding to the fold. Consistency is what makes championship teams become dangerous, and Howard will provide a steady presence in the locker room.
With Howard’s experience and knowledge working like another coach on the bench, the Heat just got even better.
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Did Derek Fisher Ruffle Mark Cuban’s Feathers by Signing with OKC Thunder?
The Oklahoma City Thunder picked up Derek Fisher yet again as they signed him to help out with their playoff run in late March last season after he was waived by the Houston Rockets. It seems Mark Cuban‘s a bit upset with Oklahoma City’s recent acquisition.
If you recall, Fisher played in nine games for the Dallas Mavericks earlier this season before requesting that the Dallas Mavericks release him after he strained his right patellar tendon.
It was upsetting to the Mavericks, as Fisher had started all nine games with the team, and because of the way he talked early on about his commitment to the team.
I told the guys today, “This is not a pit stop. This is not kind of the final whatever before I decide to retire soon. I’m here to give everything I have to help this team right now and continue to build as we go through this season.”
Fisher was concerned about the injury that would have kept him out for a few weeks and claimed that he was having difficulty being away from his family.
According to NBA.com’s Jeff Caplan, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was particularly upset about Fisher joining Oklahoma City after spurning the Mavs back in December:
Owner Mark Cuban did not reply to multiple emails on Monday, but one league source said the best way to describe the mood of the Dallas front office is “agitated.” The source said that Fisher and his representatives never contacted the Mavs during his decision-making process to discuss a possible return to Dallas, the team that, in good faith, initially signed him.
Caplan then went on to make a few pointed, yet delicate comparisons to 2007 when Fisher requested that the Utah Jazz release him in order to find the best care for his daughter, who was diagnosed with cancer in her left eye.
A few weeks down the road, Fisher settled back in Los Angeles and ended up re-signing with the Lakers, sacrificing $8 million in the process but drawing ire from Jazz fans every time he ended up back in Utah.
In reality, these are two very unique situations.
2007 Fisher was legitimately looking for better health care for his daughter, while it seems like 2013 Fisher realized the sinking ship that was the Mavericks organization, saw an out and decided to try his luck down the road.
A few months later he had dealt with the players union’s firing of Billy Hunter, re-upped as the union’s president and decided he wanted to play basketball again.
It’s hard to blame the guy, now 38 years old, for wanting to play again, and it’s hard to blame Cuban for being upset.
Fisher did jilt the Mavericks, and it seems now as if he did it with the intention of playing somewhere else, but there aren’t comparisons to be made between this situation and his situation from 2007.
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Can fashion perks really affect recruits’ Signing Day choice?
A pair of sneakers or cool jerseys can serve as an advantage for schools recruiting players.
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NBA Rumors: Teams That Would Regret Signing Greg Oden
The business side of sport is often the most overlooked—at least until bad decisions are made. Greg Oden is returning to basketball, but he may prove to be another bad decision for whichever team takes a chance on him.
Oden is a 24-year-old former No. 1 pick with all the tools to make NBA executives giddy at the thought of scooping him up at a fair price. That price, however, is largely contingent on expected return. After undergoing several microfracture surgeries on his knees, the question remains, “How much is too much?”
Sam Amico of FoxSportsOhio.com reports that Oden is eyeing a return to the league, and “interest around the NBA is sky high.” Amico also reports that teams on the list interested in Oden include the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks.
The intrigue in Oden is warranted. The seven-footer averaged 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in his short career while averaging only 22 minutes per game. If Oden can get healthy and stay that way, he has a very high ceiling in the NBA.
The health questions are the biggest concern, though. Oden played in just 82 career games before facing an early exit from the NBA due to continual knee problems. The talent was there, but the durability was not.
According to Amico, Oden plans to sign with a team soon in order to rehab and train for a full season next year. What signing Oden means is not a one-year rental for a team in need of frontcourt help, but an investment for future seasons.
While signing Oden may make sense for a team like Miami—in need of depth and rebounders—young teams with a need for roster and financial flexibility should steer clear of such a big risk. The rebuilding process is an all-or-nothing business.
Miami will have pieces in place next season to have the luxury to add pieces like Oden. Adding depth at a reasonable expense, while not impeding development of young players, would be a luxury for Miami. The Heat are averaging just 38.8 rebounds this year (No. 29 in the NBA), and adding Oden could potentially create a new rebounding and defensive element in the paint in future years.
If Cleveland and Boston are truly interested, however, signing Oden becomes more about building around him.
Boston has shunned the “rebuilding” tag and continued to wield a win-now mentality, despite enjoying far less success than in recent years. While the Celtics’ roster continues to age, Danny Ainge should be considering ways to avoid major risk and add pieces around which to build. If he can stay healthy, Oden will be a valuable player, but he will never be a valuable “asset” as long as durability concerns remain.
The Cavaliers should also stay away from Oden.
Cleveland’s fan base is desperate for a contender, and despite the Cavs’ recent influx of young talent (Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson), the team is still at the bottom of the league in talent. Cleveland has been committed to the rebuilding process through the draft, and that should continue to be the case going forward.
It may seem like a low-risk, high-reward scenario, but signing Oden presents big risk, even if his potential salary implies otherwise. If Oden returns to a young team in rebuilding mode, only to experience another injury setback, that team is at risk of losing financial flexibility and an asset with which to use in the rebuilding process.
Oden may return to the NBA at full strength and prove critics wrong by staying healthy and productive. He may reward an NBA team with double-double production and valuable frontcourt depth. But whichever team takes a chance on him should be able to afford losing him to injury should he not be capable of a full return to the NBA.
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NBA A-Z: J.R. Smith signing smart for New York Knicks
Knicks player of personnel went out of his way to make Smith feel welcome
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