Anthony Black 2023 NBA Draft odds: Arkansas guard favored to be selected by Wizards, could replace Bradley Beal as Day 1 starter next season

The biggest NBA trade that's already happened this offseason ahead of Thursday's 2023 NBA Draft saw the Washington Wizards officially pulling the trigger on a full rebuild by sending All-Star guard Bradley Beal to Phoenix for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet and draft picks. That opens a gaping hole in the Wizards backcourt, one that could be filled by Arkansas' Anthony Black, who is the +140 favorite at FanDuel to be the No. 8 overall pick Thursday. Washington currently holds that pick.

Note that draft spot props only refer to when the player is chosen, not which team uses the pick. So while Black is the favorite to go eighth, it doesn't matter if Washington picks him there, or if they trade the pick and another team takes him at No. 8. Needless to say, if the Wizards make another deal by Thursday, the odds for Black to go eighth could change.

DraftKings gives Black an over/under draft spot of 8.5, with the Under a massive -300 favorite. The CBS Sports Big Board ranks Black as its No. 8 overall prospect. You can see all the pieces fitting into place for Black to go to Washington.

The 6-foot-7 Black, a combo guard out of Texas, was ranked as the No. 15 overall player in the Class of 2022 by sister site 247Sports. He named to the All-SEC second team and was a member of the conference's All-Freshman team last season. Black was the only player to start all 36 games for Arkansas and averaged  12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game with a freshman school-record 74 steals.

Black was the only player in the SEC's top 25 in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocked shots. He became the first player in Razorback history to reach at least 450 points, 180 rebounds and 140 assists in a season. He has drawn some comparisons to Detroit's Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft who missed all of last season injured, and Oklahoma City's triple-double machine Josh Giddey. Those are the high comps for Black. The low end of the spectrum? Evan Turner.  

DK also offers a head-to-head drafted first prop of Black at -230 against UCF center Taylor Hendricks (+180). Hendricks is the favorite to be picked seventh by Indiana, though. Black is +650 to go seventh. Hendricks is +800 to go eighth. That Black goes in the top 10 is -3000. That he goes in the top five is +1200.

The last Arkansas first-round NBA Draft pick was Moses Moody at No. 14 overall to Golden State two years ago. The last Hogs top-10 pick was Joe Johnson at No. 10 in 2001 to Boston. 

Get more out of your SportsLine subscription! 

Qualifying SportsLine members receive a 30-day free trial of Paramount+ premium. Sync your account right here.