NBA teams are often pressured to spend lavishly on players in a competitive market, but the anticipated value in return is not always met. That can derail a franchise’s long-term plans – not to mention the team’s backers at Virginia sports betting apps.
However, in rare instances, teams are lucky enough to strike gold with team-friendly contracts, finding exceptional value and exceeding all expectations of the deal.
In this case, the Washington Wizards have unveiled a hidden gem in Daniel Gafford, and he’s one that customers at Virginia sportsbooks would do well to watch in the future.
Daniel Gafford High on Underrated List
Gafford’s under-the-radar presence on the court has earned him the distinction as NBA’s third-most underrated player this season, highlighting one of the few positives in a dismal 2022-23 campaign for Washington.
With Gafford slated to play a more crucial role in the upcoming season, the Wizards will generate significant action across VA sportsbooks, likely emerging as one of the league’s surprise teams.
For this study, BetVirginia.com used Basketball-Reference.com to find the cap hit and point shares of every NBA player during the 2022-23 NBA regular season. After doing the math of the dollars per point share for each player in the league, we determined the most value-driven players from this season. Salary and point shares were included for all teams the player was on during the 2022-23 season.
We compiled the top 25 and, though Washington only had the one player on the list, high high placement shows how much value he delivered.
Stay tuned with BetVirginia.com – your source for Virginia sportsbook promo codes – for more sports betting news.
Most Underrated NBA Players of 2022-23 Season
Underappreciated Gem: Daniel Gafford
If metrics at Basketball-Reference.com measured things like hustle, energy, and team spirit as leading statistics, then Gafford would be regarded among the league’s best players and ranked as one of the highest-paid athletes.
Unfortunately, that would have to be considered fantasy basketball.
Gafford, a 6-foot-10 center selected No. 38 overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2019 NBA Draft, averaged 9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists for Washington while averaging a career-high 20.6 minutes played per game. But his contributions were overshadowed by the Wizards’ disappointing season. They failed to make the playoffs after investing heavy dollars in Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, and Kyle Kuzma.
The Wizards have +25000 odds with Caesars Sportsbook Virginia to win the 2024 NBA Finals.
However, Gafford was heavily reliable, participating in 78 games out of 82 and nearly averaging 21 minutes per game. His best game was against the Atlanta Hawks on April 5, securing a double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds in just 23 minutes.
Gafford Rewarded With New Contract
As one of the league's best-performing role players and after a bargain deal with the Wizards, the team has officially rewarded Gafford with a three-year, $40 million contract for his efforts. Regarded as one of the league’s most underrated players, it can perhaps be a charming factor for the Wizards as all four conference finals teams featured a player in the Top 25.
Only five teams had multiple “underrated” players: The Timberwolves, Jazz, Knicks, Pelicans and Grizzlies (3).
If Gafford continues his impressive play, he will be the X-factor on a team that can potentially end its two-year playoff drought. Keep tabs on BetVirginia.com for the latest betting news on the 2023-24 Wizards season.
As for the current NBA Finals, Miami and Denver are tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series with Game 3 slated for 8:30 p.m. Eastern in Miami. Customers using the BetMGM bonus code VA can get the Nuggets at -275 odds to win their first NBA championship, or the Heat at +220 to win the series.
