The Chicago Bulls need to be swinging for the fences with their first pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. A franchise that has been stuck in neutral for quite some time could use a jolt of energy in the form of a potential franchise player. Of course, finding a "franchise player," won't be easy if the Bulls don't move up in the draft, staying at the No. 9 slot. That is where "swinging for the fences" comes into play, as the Bulls need to make sure they are scouting--almost exclusively--players who have "star" qualities, such as a being able to maintain decent efficiency on a high usage rate, a lack of turnovers, and an overall strong impact in certain areas of the game.

If the Bulls end up picking 9th overall, their best chance to take a swing could be Illinois star Keaton Wagler. He is projected to go in the 5-8 range in most mock drafts, meaning that Wagler being available at 9 doesn't seem completely out of the realm of possibility. Let's take a look at how Wagler would fit in Chicago's system.

When you talk about Wagler fitting in with the current Chicago Bulls core--as flexible and hard to define as that group is--you are mostly discussing how his floor-spacing and decisiveness would open things up for the rest of the group. 

In his lone year at Illinois, Wagler averaged 17.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.2 APG on a 54.1% eFG (eFG adjusts for the fact that a 3-PT FG is worth more than a 2-PT FG). 

Under head coach Brad Underwood, Illinois played in an offense where they hunted mismatches early and often. An average possession started with a Wagler pick-and-pop with one of the Illini's floor-spacing bigs.

If the defense tried to trap Wagler he would immediately pitch the ball the big spacing from 3-point range, or find a quick outlet to reset the play. If the opposing defense tried to hedge, show, or ICE the pick-and-pop, Wagler has the ball handling ability to quickly get downhill and into the teeth of the defense, and he also possesses a lightning-quick jumpshot that he isn't afraid to let fly with an inch of daylight. 

Playing in the Illini offense has done a great job of preparing Wagler for the type of decisions he will be making at the next level. Wagler had no hesitation shooting from even beyond NBA 3-point range when defenses went under the screen. When defenses went over the screen, Wagler's shiftiness allowed him to wiggle into the lane and draw contact often, resulting in a robust 47.6% FTr (Free Throws per Field Goal Attempt). Those 5.8 free throw attempts per game from a 6-foot-6, 185 lb.-frame are impressive, and bodes well for Wagler's ability to absorb contact on his drives as he adds weight and develops in the NBA. He shot 48% overall on 2-point FGAs, a figure that highlights his ability to score when getting downhill. Wagler prefers to get all the way to the cup or the FT line, but can get to a spin move and midnrange shot that is especially effective against bigs after a switch.

Though he came in as a somewhat unheralded recruit, Wagler put the entire nation on notice during his freshman season.

A 25% usage rate, 10.6% turnover rate and 54.1% eFG illustrated a player who took on a big offensive load for his team, yet still I managed to shoot efficiently and limit his mistakes as a 19-year old. Wagler has all the traits you look for in a player offensively to qualify as a "star," and even if he doesn't reach those lofty heights, his shooting and overall basketball IQ signify that he will at the very least be a helpful player on essentially any NBA roster.

Predictably, defense is where most of the concerns come up with Wagler, a skinnier player who made his name on the offensive side of the floor. But despite the assumption that he would be lacking on this end, it is fair to at the very least say that Wagler gives great effort defensively. 

Wagler isn't afraid of contact on offense, something that translates over to the defensive side of the ball. He will bump and slide with his man on drives, keeping his long arms up to disrupt the vision of the ball-handler. If Wagler spots a handoff  coming while on defense, his basketball IQ and decisive nature on the court can result in plays where he will force a tie up or a turnover by simply meeting the offensive player right as they try to receive the pass. 

Stronger wings can still bump Wagler off his spot, but he will fight, which is all you can ask for at this stage of his development.

Wagler processes the game well, to the point where it seems like you can trust him to be in the right spots defensively, and strength will continue to be the main (and very solvable) issue for him. Wagler averaged less than a steal per game (0.9) and less than half a block per game (0.4). He's not a defensive playmaker at all. All of that being said, at 6-foot-6, as long as Wagler can avoid being the absolute weakest defender on the floor for his squad, it is easy to see him stepping into a decent role right away in the NBA. If Wagler can survive defensively in the NBA, the sky is the limit for his development.