Before UFC 116 betting, the NBA will hold their annual draft on June 24 at the mecca of basketball betting, Madison Square Garden, in New York City.  While everyone is talking about the top two picks, Kentucky’s John Wall and Ohio State’s Evan Turner, there is an abundance of quality among the big men, of which there is a lack of in the NBA.  Here are the top five big men available in this draft.

Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech

Favors is the one player that people think will challenge Wall and Turner in the top two picks, while New Jersey would be happy to take him with the third pick. He may be the most intriguing player in the draft as Favors was hampered by awful point-guard play, but he’s an athletic freak who can run the floor as well as any big man in a long time.

DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky

Cousins/Favors may be the next big debate after Wall/Turner, and it was Cousins, not Kentucky teammate Wall, who was the SEC’s Freshman of the Year.  He has amazing footwork and an array of post moves for a young player, and he’s a physical monster, although he could stand to turn some of his bulk into muscle.  The biggest question about Cousins is his maturity, but if he can harness that, he’ll be a solid addition to any team’s NBA championship betting odds.

Greg Monroe, Georgetown

Monroe isn’t a bruiser by any stretch.  Think a young Kevin Garnett, but without the intensity on defense, or in general, really.  But Monroe’s skill set is enough for someone to make him a lottery pick as he’s a phenomenal passer for a 6’11” player, and he’s long enough to be a pain on the defensive end.  The big knock on Monroe is that he doesn’t have a killer instinct, and he really should have dominated more in college, and that may not be good for a team’s online betting odds.

Cole Aldrich, Kansas

Aldrich, along with Cousins, is a legitimate center and his defensive instincts will earn him playing time right away for whatever team takes him.  He also improved his offensive game during his time at Kansas, and he probably could have left after his sophomore year, but decided to come back for a title, which shows a bit of maturity.

Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest

Another player who probably could have left prior to this year, Aminu was a double-double threat for his two years at Wake Forest, but like Favors, was bogged down with bad guard play.  Aminu could stand to extend his range, but he’s a tremendous athlete with a huge upside, moreso than North Carolina’s Ed Davis.  Aminu could end up being an NBA betting darkhorse for Rookie of the Year.