Illinois freshman guard Keaton Wagler going No. 5 overall to the Los Angeles Clippers is interesting and was the first real unknown of Tuesday night’s first round of the NBA Draft .
It’s a clear upside play, even if there are questions about Wagler’s defensive ceiling.
He's got small hands, a short wingspan at 6-foot-6 and is just a decent athlete at 6-5 and 188 pounds. It's not necessarily a great position to be in when entering a league that's becoming longer and bigger.
This doesn't mean Wagler can't succeed, but it does mean the onus is on him to think his way out of situations. His on-ball creation and shooting capabilities need to carry over.
Fortunately for Wagler, he's got the ability to do that after averaging 17.9 points on 39.7% shooting from 3-point range, with 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
Los Angeles is certainly hoping he can put it all together with a veteran-laden roster around him.
