Clippers Projected to Snag ‘Best Player Off the Board' in NBA Draft

The Los Angeles Clippers have the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft, and it’s shaping up to be a move that could help this franchise stage a comeback. Having a high pick in the draft can absolutely change a franchise, especially if that player turns out to be a superstar.

In a recent mock draft, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report names his projections for the upcoming draft. He has them taking Keaton Wagler out of Illinois, a versatile player who just makes sense.

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“The No. 5 pick might be the biggest pivot point of this draft, and it could reveal plenty about L.A.’s approach to the annual talent grab,” he states in the piece, comparing Wagler to the other likely options. “Because there might be a best-player argument to be made here for Darius Acuff Jr.”

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He adds: “And there’s almost certainly a best-fit label draped around Aday Mara, whose 7’3″, 255-pound frame could immediately fill the void created by the deadline subtraction of Ivica Zubac. With Wagler, though, the Clippers could see the convergence of both worlds.”

My Analysis: Keaton Wagler and the Clippers

Wagler brings a little bit of everything to the table. He has the creativity to run an offense, the shooting touch to play off the ball and the size at 6-foot-6 to give the opposing team problems. A lot of teams could view him as the best overall player still available at this point in the draft or even a player who could go higher.

He also feels like one of the cleaner fits next to Darius Garland because he wouldn’t need the ball in his hands every second to make an impact. That balance could make the Clippers a whole lot more dangerous offensively.

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This story was originally published May 24, 2026 at 3:06 PM.