The Clippers have decisions to make.
With the 2026 NBA Draft a week away, the Los Angeles Clippers are sitting on the most interesting pick in the first round.
The fifth overall pick fell into their hands after a midseason deal that sent Ivica Zubac to Indiana, where the Pacers' top-four protection failed to convey following a dismal 19-63 finish.
Combined with the trade that sent James Harden to Cleveland for Darius Garland at the deadline, the front office has spent months positioning for a younger, more flexible roster.
The Clippers went 42-40 and reached the Play-In, but their attention has shifted entirely toward draft night.
The consensus has the first four picks locked in with some order of AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson, which means the real draft starts at No. 5.
ESPN's Jeremy Woo, in his latest full mock, identified three guards the Clippers are weighing as they look to build around Garland going forward.
What the Mock Says
Woo wrote that "the Clippers are said to be looking for a player who can immediately complement the smaller Darius Garland, the key return for James Harden at the trade deadline."
He named Mikel Brown Jr. and Brayden Burries as "two prospects who fit that mold, with Brown scheduled to work out in LA later this week."
The reasoning lines up with what Garland, who averaged 18.8 points and 6.7 assists per game this past season, needs next to him.
At 6-foot-1, Garland is a gifted scorer but needs a bigger backcourt partner with more defensive length.
Brown, the Louisville freshman, has the creative upside to eventually run an offense after posting 18.2 points and 4.7 assists in 21 games, though lingering back problems limited his availability.
Burries offers something different as a sturdy 215-pound guard who shot 49.1 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three at Arizona, giving the Clippers a physical, low-maintenance scoring option.
Why Wagler Got the Nod
Of the three, Woo landed on Illinois' Keaton Wagler, who put up 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists as a freshman en route to consensus All-American honors.
Woo wrote that Wagler "best marries long-term upside with immediate rotation value, thanks to his size, shooting and feel as a ball-moving offensive conduit at both backcourt spots."
At 6-foot-6, Wagler has the frame to guard multiple positions and the 39.7 percent three-point shooting to space the floor alongside Garland.
He is a willing passer and connector, less of a ball-dominant guard and more of a complementary piece who can grow into a larger role over time.
Whether Los Angeles ultimately stays at No. 5 or explores trading down remains the lingering question.
But if the Clippers stand pat, the shortlist appears settled, and Wagler seems to be the prospect who best fits the direction this roster is headed.
