What should the Los Angeles Clippers do with the fifth overall pick?
The Los Angeles Clippers are set to pick fifth overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The Clippers got some lottery luck as they entered the draft lottery with no first round pick, but walked away with the fifth overall thanks to a trade with the Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers traded a 1-4 and 10-30 first-round pick and Bennedict Mathurin to the Clippers in exchange for Ivica Zubac at the trade deadline. The Pacers were the second worst team in the league by the end of the year, but there was still a 47.9% chace that their pick could fall to five or six.
It fell to fifth, and the Clippers are set to reap the rewards.
What Should The Clippers Do?
In their latest mock draft, The Athletic speculated on what the Clippers might do with the pick.
“Sources have indicated that the team is digging into all the top guard prospects as well as exploring potential trade-down scenarios that could result in them accumulating more assets. I’ve also heard Aday Mara’s name associated with the Clippers, although it’s difficult to tell if that would be at No. 5 or in a potential trade down.”
The top guards are Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff Jr, and Kingston Flemings. All three have their strengths and weaknesses that could fit alongside Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland.
Aday Mara is the best center prospect in the draft, but not viewed as the fifth best player in the draft.
The Best Fit?
Of the guards, Wagler is the best fit for the Clippers. He can play on or off the ball and has more size than Acuff Jr or Flemings.
The Clippers traded James Harden for Darius Garland at the trade deadline, and he is unlikely to go anywhere. They need someone who has more size and strength than Garland, and who can play off-ball as Garland is best as a creator for others.
Taking Mara would effectively be admitting that they need a player like Zubac on the roster. The Clippers were an undersized team after trading Zubac, but Mara fixes that problem. He's 7'4'', protects the rim, has great touch around the basket, and can be used as a playmaker as well.
Unless the Clippers trade down to acquire more assets, they should be looking to take Wagler at fifth overall. He's the best fit of the guard bunch, and Mara would be a slight reach at number five.
