2026 NBA

Draft

Why the Clippers believe No. 5 pick Keaton Wagler pairs well with Darius Garland

The Clippers believe Wagler is the kind of guard who can play on and off the ball alongside Darius Garland. Arturo Holmes / Getty Images

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — When the LA Clippers were planning Intuit Dome, they envisioned cheering deep playoff runs there, and perhaps a championship. It was unlikely that celebrating a top-five draft pick was on the list of events to fete, particularly without any foreseeable first-round picks.

But that was the scene on the corner of Century Boulevard and Prairie Avenue, with Clippers fans filing in ahead of the first round of Tuesday night’s NBA Draft. When the Clippers went on the clock with the fifth pick, it was loud with hype and anticipation. Then, they took Illinois point guard Keaton Wagler.

There were no surprises and no shenanigans. No trading down or out, and no selecting any of the other guards who wound up populating the rest of the top 10. They stayed away from the Michigan bigs, too. The Clippers had a type, and they stuck with it.

“For us, the way we defined how we were gonna select the player at five was, ‘Who has the best chance to be the best player we can get on the next Clipper contending team?'” said president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank after selecting the 19-year-old Wagler. “It was an exhaustive process. We were very, very fortunate to be able to work out and spend a great deal of time with a very, very talented group of guys. Ranged from all the guards to the bigs to the wings. We really challenged each other … you just look at just big picture, who is the best player for the Clippers’ next contending roster? And we landed on Keaton.”

Frank went on to highlight the traits and intangibles that Wagler brings to the table, saying he’s “someone who’s extremely hungry and driven to improve, someone who embodies the work ethic, the resilience, the dedication of everybody who works with the Clippers.”

That’s nice and all, but this is professional basketball. To play requires skills, and there is a demand that they are shown. Wagler’s skill set at 6-foot-5 was a key differentiator for the Clippers.

“We put a big premium on positional size,” said Frank, echoing a theme of previous Clippers teams that favored bigger guards with additional shooting and defensive abilities while putting the onus on Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to be primary playmakers. “Keaton can play both on and off the ball. He can play two positions. Then, skill. Guys who can dribble, pass, and shoot. He can do all three at a very, very high level. And then I think a couple things that separate Keaton that make him special: his basketball IQ, feel and craftiness. There’s a lot when people talk about players now, processing speed, and Keaton very much has a very quick processor.”

Wagler’s ability to play multiple positions is important. A major part of this draft for the Clippers was how it would reflect on Darius Garland, the 6-foot-1 star point guard acquired in exchange for James Harden in February. The Clippers had their pick of guards, but Wagler was the best fit due to his positional versatility. He can play with Garland, or in place of Garland. He can play on the ball and get his game off, or he can play off the ball and be effective. Wagler’s height gives him an opportunity to guard bigger players, even if he needs to continue adding strength to a frame that features a short wingspan and relatively underwhelming athleticism.

Garland’s input in this class was particularly interesting. The two-time All-Star has had a “tremendous” offseason, according to Frank. In addition to the work Garland has put in, he watched pre-draft workouts and encouraged the Clippers to take the best player, regardless of position.

“He was great,” Frank said of Garland. “He gave great input. There are a bunch of players. He’s like, ‘Man, it’s a really hard decision.’ And I think he kind of took himself out of it and just in the sense of, whether it’s strictly a one-position player or if it’s someone who doesn’t play the point guard, just getting the best player. And I think he’s really, really happy with Keaton.”