The 2026 NBA Draft is finally here, and the general consensus is the first four picks are already settled with some combination of AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. The No. 5 overall pick and the LA Clippers is where things are much less certain with guards Keaton Wagler and Mikel Brown Jr. reportedly in play.
Well on the eve of the NBA Draft, the Clippers’ decision has reportedly landed on Keaton Wagler over Mikel Brown Jr., as per ClutchPoints’ NBA insider Brett Siegel. While there was chatter surrounding the Clippers potentially gaging the trade marker for their pick, that is not expected to happen.
“That final option is no longer expected to happen, as the Clippers are said to have made their decision with the No. 5 pick,” Siegel reports. “Although I tend to believe Brown is the better long-term fit for the Clippers, there is a growing sense around the league that Wagler will be the one to hear his name called immediately after the top four of the draft.”
As far as the backcourt goes and the Clippers already having Darius Garland in place, Wagler’s ability to play either guard position would seem to fit better. He is coming off an impactful freshman year at Illinois that saw his draft stock skyrocket as the season progressed.
Wagler started all 37 games he played as a freshman for the Fighting Illini, at a little over 33 minutes per game. He averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists with splits of 44.5 percent shooting from the field, 39.7 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 79.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
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