The Clippers may have pivoted to a different guard.
As the NBA Draft draws closer and closer, the Los Angeles Clippers have to make an important decision, that being who exactly they'll select with the fifth-overall pick and that decision has the chance to have ripple effects across their future for years to come.
With the Clippers in the midst of a rebuild and picking up a plethora of picks in the process, each decision they make with those picks will be crucial for contributing to the Clippers' team construction as they try and put together that can both grow together and become competitive in the near future.
There are a number of areas that the Clippers need to address within their roster, but their number one need to address is acquiring an impactful guard to pair alongside Darius Garland in the back court.
Louisville Cardinals guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) grabs a defensive rebound against NC State during ACC basketball February 9, 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky Matt Stone/Courier Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesChanging of the Guard
On that front, the Clippers have a lot of options ahead of them, especially with the level of talent available in this upcoming draft.
When it comes to who exactly they would pick, they've cycled through a variety of names, at least if mock drafts from a variety of outlets are to be believed.
From Darius Acuff Jr. to Keaton Wagler, there's been a handful of guards associated with the Clippers, but the latest name attached to them may be the most intriguing.
A reason report from ESPN proposed that the Clippers should select Mikel Brown Jr., a freshman guard out of Louisville.
Brown Jr. impressed in his freshman season, averaging 18.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 41% from the field and 34.4% from three point range.
Louisville Cardinals guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) gets congratulated by teammate Louisville Cardinals guard Ryan Conwell (3) after Brown Jr. scored 45 points with 10-for-16 3-point shooting as the Cards roll past NC State 118-77 at the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville February 9, 2026. Conwell finished with 31 points and six assists. Matt Stone/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesBrown Jr.'s Upside
"This young man has now moved his name up and the momentum is on his side to potentially be the No. 5 pick in the draft," ESPN's Sean Farnham said.
His playmaking abilities and his tendency to push the pace of the offense present good reasons for the Clippers to make him a prime target of theirs and he must have shown off some additional skills in workouts since initial draft projections that endeared the Clippers to him even more.
Louisville Cardinals guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) was unfazed after he scored 45 points with 10-for-16 3-point shooting as the Cards roll past NC State 118-77 at the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville February 9, 2026. Matt Stone/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesWith his diverse skill set, the Clippers would have good reason to put their stock in Brown jr. and use the prime positioning they have in the draft to the best of their advantage.
With Brown Jr. and Garland in the back court, the Clippers will have done a lot to set themselves up for future success and built a sturdy foundation for the roster moves yet to come.
