{"id":2007500,"date":"2026-06-24T00:38:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T21:38:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2007500"},"modified":"2026-06-24T00:38:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T21:38:37","slug":"keaton-wagler-selected-by-la-clippers-with-the-no-5-pick-in-the-2026-nba-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2007500","title":{"rendered":"Keaton Wagler selected by LA Clippers with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Athletic has live coverage<\/a> of the 2026 NBA Draft.<\/i><\/p>\n

The LA Clippers selected Keaton Wagler with the No. 5 pick Tuesday in the 2026 NBA Draft.<\/p>\n

Wagler averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists in his only season with Illinois, which lost to UConn in the national semifinals.<\/p>\n

Wagler has great size for an NBA combo guard. At the combine, he measured 6-foot-5 in bare feet with a 6 feet 6 1\/4-inch wingspan. Wagler will have no problem playing on or off ball at that size, and he could develop into a flexible positional defender. He\u2019s also a coordinated, balanced athlete. He\u2019s not very explosive, but he maintains his balance at odd angles while playing well off of two feet and changing speeds.<\/p>\n

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By far the biggest question around Wagler\u2019s NBA outlook is his physical frame, which has a lot of room for improvement. He got stronger throughout the course of the year under Illinois\u2019 strength and conditioning staff, widely considered one of the best in college basketball. But he still has a long way to go to be physically ready to play in the NBA. Wagler weighed 188 pounds at the combine.<\/p>\n

Sam Vecenie\u2019s analysis<\/h2>\n
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How Keaton Wagler came from out of nowhere to become a top NBA prospect<\/div>\n
Sam Vecenie<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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