The Los Angeles Clippers made three selections across two nights of the 2026 NBA Draft and came away with one of their strongest draft hauls in over a decade.
A 6-21 start nearly buried the Los Angeles Clippers this season, and even after one of the wildest second-half runs in franchise history got them to 42-40, the year still ended early with a Play-In loss to Golden State.
That kind of season demands a strong offseason response, and the front office delivered across two nights at Barclays Center.
Wagler Fills the Backcourt Gap
With the fifth overall pick, Los Angeles selected Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, a 6-foot-6 second-team All-American who averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists as a freshman while shooting 39.7 percent from three.
He won Big Ten Freshman of the Year and the Jerry West Award after leading the Illini to the Final Four, and he is the franchise's highest draft pick since Blake Griffin went first overall in 2009.
Wagler is set to play alongside Darius Garland, who averaged 19.1 points and 6.9 assists across 40 games between Cleveland and Los Angeles this season.
With Garland running the point and Wagler operating off the ball, the Clippers finally have backcourt length and shooting that they lacked all year.
Kawhi Leonard put up 27.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game across 65 appearances, and another capable creator on the wing makes the offense far more dangerous heading into next year.
Second-Round Picks Add Size and Scoring
At No. 36, the Clippers grabbed Baba Miller out of Cincinnati, a 6-foot-10 forward who averaged a double-double with 13.0 points and 10.3 rebounds while dishing out 3.7 assists per game.
Miller grew up in the Real Madrid system and has the kind of size and versatility that the roster desperately needs after losing Ivica Zubac at the deadline.
Los Angeles then traded up with Houston to take Nick Martinelli at No. 55, a 6-foot-6 forward out of Northwestern who led the Big Ten in scoring for the second straight season at 23.0 points per game while shooting 41.7 percent from three.
The Clippers also traded the 52nd pick to Atlanta for the 57th selection and cash, using it on Narcisse Ngoy, a 7-foot French center who was named MVP of the French second division after averaging 10.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks.
Ngoy will play at Auburn next season while the Clippers hold his draft rights.
Why This Draft Stands Out
The Clippers have not made four picks in a single draft in the modern era, and each one addressed a different hole on the roster.
Wagler gives them a potential franchise guard to pair with Garland, Miller fills the gap at forward with his rebounding and playmaking, Martinelli adds proven scoring off the bench, and Ngoy is a low-risk investment in a young rim protector.
For a team that has not had this kind of draft capital in years, Los Angeles got the most out of every pick and laid the foundation for what comes next.
