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The NBA draft starts Tuesday, and all eyes will be on the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Clips managed to snag the No. 5 pick from the Indiana Pacers in the draft lottery.
With the top four players in the draft largely decided, the Clippers offer the first real unknown.
After AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson come off the board, the Clippers will have a multitude of choices, though major mock drafts have them selecting one player in particular.
Both The Athletic and ESPN expect the Clippers to take Keaton Wagler out of Illinois.
Sam Vecenie of The Athletic said he’s also heard rumblings of the Clippers picking Mikel Brown Jr., but he believes Wagler is the “best fit … thanks to his ability to play both on and off the ball.”
“Sources have indicated that Wagler has added muscle to his frame during the pre-draft process. He came to Illinois at 168 pounds and weighed 188 pounds at the combine; his frame should continue adding strength over the next few years,” Vecenie wrote.
Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) goes to the basket against UConn Huskies guard Silas Demary Jr. (2) in the second half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Similarly, Jeremy Woo of ESPN also cited Wagler and Brown as the likely choices, though Wagler got most of Woo’s atttention.
“Wagler is strongly in play for the Clippers as a natural fit next to Darius Garland, who can handle point guard responsibilities while Wagler gradually develops into a higher-usage playmaker,” Woo wrote. “He took only two visits — to the Bulls and Clippers — and canceled trips to Brooklyn and Sacramento, a decision that suggests he is comfortable with his standing. He is a player with a broad market who is thought to be coveted by a number of teams later in the lottery, making him a potential trade-in target at this slot.”
Vecenie and Woo both explained that the No. 5 pick is valuable, and other teams may want to trade into that spot.
“The Clippers have also had discussions about trading down, although sources indicate that they do seem set on making an early draft selection this year,” Vecenie wrote. “Multiple league sources have speculated that if the Clippers look to trade down, don’t be surprised to see them get another pick in this year’s draft — just in case the NBA’s investigation into the Aspiration scandal results in the loss of future picks. If they do trade the pick, I’ve heard Wagler the most out of the players that other teams would be chasing. If the Clippers were to move down, Brayden Burries would be a potential fit.”
The post Clippers Tied to Talented Wing in NBA Draft appeared first on LA Sports Report.
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The Clips managed to snag the No. 5 pick from the Indiana Pacers in the draft lottery.
With the top four players in the draft largely decided, the Clippers offer the first real unknown.
After AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson come off the board, the Clippers will have a multitude of choices, though major mock drafts have them selecting one player in particular.
Experts predict the Clippers will go with a wing
Both The Athletic and ESPN expect the Clippers to take Keaton Wagler out of Illinois.
Sam Vecenie of The Athletic said he’s also heard rumblings of the Clippers picking Mikel Brown Jr., but he believes Wagler is the “best fit … thanks to his ability to play both on and off the ball.”
“Sources have indicated that Wagler has added muscle to his frame during the pre-draft process. He came to Illinois at 168 pounds and weighed 188 pounds at the combine; his frame should continue adding strength over the next few years,” Vecenie wrote.
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Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) goes to the basket against UConn Huskies guard Silas Demary Jr. (2) in the second half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Similarly, Jeremy Woo of ESPN also cited Wagler and Brown as the likely choices, though Wagler got most of Woo’s atttention.
“Wagler is strongly in play for the Clippers as a natural fit next to Darius Garland, who can handle point guard responsibilities while Wagler gradually develops into a higher-usage playmaker,” Woo wrote. “He took only two visits — to the Bulls and Clippers — and canceled trips to Brooklyn and Sacramento, a decision that suggests he is comfortable with his standing. He is a player with a broad market who is thought to be coveted by a number of teams later in the lottery, making him a potential trade-in target at this slot.”
Could the Clippers trade the draft pick?
Vecenie and Woo both explained that the No. 5 pick is valuable, and other teams may want to trade into that spot.
“The Clippers have also had discussions about trading down, although sources indicate that they do seem set on making an early draft selection this year,” Vecenie wrote. “Multiple league sources have speculated that if the Clippers look to trade down, don’t be surprised to see them get another pick in this year’s draft — just in case the NBA’s investigation into the Aspiration scandal results in the loss of future picks. If they do trade the pick, I’ve heard Wagler the most out of the players that other teams would be chasing. If the Clippers were to move down, Brayden Burries would be a potential fit.”
The post Clippers Tied to Talented Wing in NBA Draft appeared first on LA Sports Report.
Continue reading...
