Clippers Need to Snag This Rising Star Guard With No. 5 NBA Draft Pick

The NBA draft lottery is in the books, and now, we know the order of picks for the 2026 NFL draft, excluding, of course, draft-day trades.

The Los Angeles Clippers have the No. 5 pick in the draft. They’ll have a plethora of guard options, but the one they should take, assuming he’s available, is freshman Keaton Wagler out of Illinois.

In a mock out on Sunday, May 10, following the NBA draft lottery, Jeremy Woo of ESPN predicts where each young player will land in the draft.

In the draft, he sees Wagler going to the Clippers.

“Wagler led Illinois all the way to the Final Four to cap one of the more remarkable prospect rises ever, entering the season as a curiosity for scouts and finishing as a bona fide top talent in an exceptional lottery class,” he states.

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He adds: “While scouts expect it will take time for him to add strength and adjust physically to the NBA, the fact that Wagler is 6-foot-6, plays with change of pace and adds value at both guard positions points to major long-term upside as his body matures and he gains experience. His unusual trajectory and rapid improvement bode well.”

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My Analysis: Keaton Wagler to the Clippers

The Clippers really lucked out with their No. 5 draft selection, especially since Los Angeles doesn’t really have control over its own draft picks until 2030. They would be wise to use this selection to get Wagler. He’s a versatile player, and that makes him a good fit with the Clippers, because he can fill in some other gaps while Darius Garland has the main point guard duties.

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This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 1:12 PM.