Would Keaton Wagler be the right pick for the Clippers at fifth overall?
The Los Angeles Clippers hold the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and where they sit, they have various young guards to choose from.
Los Angeles is not in full rebuild mode yet, but they have been saving up assets for when the time comes to move on from star player Kawhi Leonard. Leonard, 34, is entering the last year of his contract.
The Clippers have a chance to select a player to make an immediate impact on a team full of veterans, but they also have the chance to move off the pick and continue to get assets back.
NBA insider Michael Scotto believes the Clippers will stay put at 5 and take prospect Keaton Wagler, a guard from Illinois.
Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Wagler is 19 years old and would bring a lot of versatility to the Clippers' backcourt. Wagler averaged 17.9 points per game in his freshman season at Illinois, as well as 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
He also played winning basketball, leading his team to the Final Four in March.
Would Wagler be the Right Pick at 5?
Keaton Wagler would be joining a team that traded for Darius Garland in the middle of the season. Garland, 26, played well enough for the Clippers to complete a second-half surge and found themselves in the Play-In Tournament.
Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesGarland is a veteran who has a lot of experience in the NBA so far, but Wagler could be a player who provides a similar skill set and is younger.
Wagler, like Garland, is a crafty player on offense who can shoot the ball at a high level. Garland is a better playmaker as of now, but with coaching, that could change very quickly.
Kris Dunn and Bennedict Mathurin are also players who are under contract next season and help make up this Clippers guard group. Dunn brings a lot of defensive ability to the backcourt, while Mathurin is a volume shooter and can create offense for himself.
William Liang-Imagn ImagesWagler would only add to the high offensive upside the Clippers already possess.
How Would Picking Wagler Affect Garland?
Darius Garland and Keaton Wagler could eventually turn into the backcourt of the future. There is also a chance their play styles don't mesh, and we could see Garland moved elsewhere eventually.
Garland was able to be productive with Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland, who also had a similar play style to Wagler coming into the NBA.
Geoff Burke-Imagn ImagesMany speculate Wagler could play the point guard or shooting guard position, and that would be the hope if the Clippers decide to draft him.
