The 2025-2026 NBA season turned out to be a disappointing run for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Despite possessing a championship-ready roster on paper, the season started to fall apart early and fast for the Clippers. Dominoes were falling. The Bradley Beal injury, the Chris Paul cut, and the stunning James Harden trade all went down before the February deadline.
While Kawhi Leonard and the re-shaped roster had an impressive run down the stretch, the Clippers couldn’t secure a playoff seed through the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Fortunately, their in-season trade with the Indiana Pacers gave them some good luck. After Sunday’s lottery, the Clippers ended up with the Pacers’ fifth-overall pick.
In a post-lottery mock draft, the Clippers use the selection on a player that was given a Jamal Murray comparison.
The LA Clippers Take Keaton Wagler In A 2026 NBA Draft Mock
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 28: Keaton Wagler #23 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Toyota Center on March 28, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
In Bleacher Report’s post-lottery mock draft, the Clippers would see AJ Dybansta, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson fly off the board as the top four picks.
Most big boards might rank Darius Acuff Jr. as the top player available in that spot after the special season he had at Arkansas, but BR projects Keaton Wagler out of Illinois.
“His shooting at this stage is well documented and highly convincing. If there is a concern with Wagler, it’s the lack of strength and explosion inside the arc, but he compensated effectively against the Huskies using his signature change of pace, deceleration and a crafty layup package on his drives.
The athletic and physical limitations could keep Wagler out of the top five, but it’s become easier and easier to bet on him problem-solving stronger defenders with potent shotmaking, quick processing and IQ/maturity.” via Jonathan Wasserman, BR
The 19-year-old attended high school in Kansas, and committed to play for Illinois. He started all 37 games he played as a freshman, flashing impressive shooting.
Wagler produced 17.9 points per game, knocking down 44.5% of his shots from the field and hitting on 39.7% of his threes on 5.9 attempts per game.
He also produced 4.2 assists per game, along with 5.1 rebounds per game.
Wagler was a second-team All-American, First-team All-Big Ten, Big Tean All-Freshman, and the Big Tean Freshman of the Year.
The Clippers Are In A Good Spot
GettyINGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 25: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers controls the ball against the Toronto Raptors in the second half at Intuit Dome on March 25, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
It’s not going to be the roster that many expected, but the Clippers are suddenly in a decent spot with options surrounding the key duo of Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland.
A top five pick allows the Clippers to get a high-ceiling pick to develop, while potentially having them serve a key role as early as the 2026-2027 NBA season.
It’s too early to assume that Wagler could become another Jamal Murray, but if that’s the comp the Clippers see, it’s a strong one.
Murray is a homegrown guard in Denver, who has been a quality guard for the past nine seasons he played. Murray has formed one of the league’s top duos with Nikola Jokic. A good scorer (18.9 PPG), decent playmaker (5.0 APG), and efficient shooter (39.0%), a Murray-type is exactly what you want in a guard coming out of the draft.
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