​  INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Los Angeles Clippers entered Tuesday’s NBA Draft holding the fifth overall pick, and despite early speculation that they could trade the selection, the organization ultimately chose to stay put and draft guard Keaton Wagler.Wagler’s selection marks the highest draft choice the Clippers have made since selecting Blake Griffin with the No. 1 overall pick in 2009.Griffin’s arrival helped transform the franchise and eventually ushered in the “Lob City” era. While expectations for Wagler will naturally be different, the significance of the selection highlights how rarely the Clippers have drafted this high over the past decade and a half.From a roster-construction standpoint, the fit makes plenty of sense.The 6-foot-6 shooting guard joins a backcourt that already features Darius Garland, whom the Clippers acquired at the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline. Given Garland’s 6-foot-1 frame, adding a bigger guard alongside him addresses a need while providing additional versatility. Wagler may not be the most explosive athlete in this draft class, but he consistently gets to his spots and has developed into a crafty, shifty combo guard.What makes this pairing particularly intriguing is Wagler’s ability to thrive without the ball in his hands.Garland is at his best operating in pick-and-roll situations, and Wagler’s off-ball movement should allow the two guards to complement one another effectively. While Wagler will likely begin his NBA career as a secondary ball handler, his ability to score both on and off the ball gives the Clippers’ lineup additional flexibility, especially on the perimeter.With Kawhi Leonard still serving as a focal point of the offense, Wagler does not need to arrive as a primary creator from day one. Instead, he can ease into a role that maximizes his strengths while continuing to develop his overall game.Wagler’s path to becoming a top-five selection was anything but conventional.Coming out of high school, the Kansas native was a four-star recruit who committed to Illinois. Entering his freshman season, he was not widely projected to crack the starting lineup. By the end of the year, however, he had helped lead Illinois to a Final Four appearance.In 37 games, Wagler averaged 17.9 points per game while shooting 44.5 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from beyond the arc.His breakout moments came throughout the season. On Jan. 24, 2026, he set Illinois’ freshman single-game scoring record with 46 points on the road against No. 4 Purdue at Mackey Arena, including a remarkable 9-for-11 performance from three-point range. He later scored 25 points in an Elite Eight victory over Iowa and earned NCAA South Regional Most Outstanding Player honors.By season’s end, Wagler had broken Illinois freshman records for total points (663), scoring average (17.9), and 20-point games (11).Ad      ​Read More