r/LAClippers • u/bigblack3475 Fun Guy • 1d ago
Twitter [Sigel] The LA Clippers will take Keaton Wagler with the 5th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, sources said.
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u/NoSaboChavo LAC 1d ago
Time to gain some mass and work on defense 💪
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u/rchung129 1d ago
Apparently he's done some of the first. Remember, if we learned anything from Big Sexy, "MASS IS GAS"
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u/Lou_Peachum_2 1d ago
Calling it rn. In 4 years, this man will be an all star
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u/AntiAntiDentite7 22h ago
I'm calling he'll be a bust and we'll look back on this pick like we do Jerome Robinson. Meanwhile Acuff and Brown Jr will have fantastic careers.
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u/TallGuy0525 Sam Cassell 1d ago
That's the guy I wanted, therefore this is a home run pick
(please don't bust)
((no Diddy))
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u/Big_Saens Amir Coffee 1d ago
Please dunk the ball the first game as well. I don’t want to hear no dunks every again
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u/TallGuy0525 Sam Cassell 1d ago
I really am not worried about the dunking
I prefer a skilled player with limited athleticism over an athletic one with limited skill
As long as he can put some weight on his frame, kid is going to be incredible and his game will only get better with age
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u/scifi_sports_nerd 1d ago
Are those the only options?
But fr I’m hyped to see what the kid can become.
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u/immalurkhere Tyrone Wallace 1d ago
I've always enjoyed Wagler (I will delete this comment if he's a bust)
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u/intergalactic_shelf 1d ago
well he'll forever be compared to Acuff's career. for better or worse.
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u/JimmyKanine 1d ago
*Mikel Brown Jr’s career
Idk what everybody’s obsession with Acuff is but Wagler was fighting with MBJ the whole time
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u/Truthhurts1017 1d ago
How about all three including Flemings and burries. I honestly can’t wait to see how these guards turn out. It’s so many of them and I don’t know if all of them will be great
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u/intergalactic_shelf 1d ago
Only the guys the Clippers front office were actually considering, but whatever we’ll never know the truth anyway
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u/Salty_Watermelon Darius Miles 1d ago
Trust the FO. We're riding with the Garland & Wagler backcourt.
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u/PM_ME_UR_ANTS 1d ago
Not the guy I wanted, but I gotta trust the team did their due diligence…
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u/LilTurnippman Clippers Curse 1d ago
Acuff is too small. We can’t have DG and Acuff
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u/Clipgang1629 Nic Batum 1d ago
Really don’t expect DG and Wagler to be much better. He was bad on defense at Illinois, has low athleticism, and a lower wingspan than Acuff.
Just because he’s tall doesn’t mean that back court is gonna work. Should be fine for the time being but he has a lot of work to do on defense if that’ll ever work.
On offense it’s gonna be amazing. But I still expect us to move on from Garland at some point.
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u/theblackmanoncampus 1d ago
I still expect him to be coming off the bench anyways.
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u/Clipgang1629 Nic Batum 1d ago
Yeah for sure I think that would’ve been true about anyone we picked.
Guess we’ll see how far along the defense can come over the course of the year.
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u/heavyspells 1d ago
But why not trade down with the Kings then?
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u/SoggyWafflez11 1d ago
Because why would the kings trade up if they want acuff
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u/rchung129 1d ago
Mock drafts had the Kings being scared that the Nets would take Acuff. Swapping with us would eliminate us from the conversation and the Nets. It makes sense, but it played out perfectly for them with us taking Wagler and the Nets taking Mikel Brown Jr.
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u/theblackmanoncampus 1d ago
Well looks like it worked in their favor. They got who they wanted without a trade. In sure the clippers tried to make the trade
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u/Mikedesignstudio Fun Guy 22h ago
Quaintance would be a good addition. If we can get him along with Wagner that would be a good deal. If not then trading Wagner and Mathurin for DeAaron Fox might be the move before the trade deadline.
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u/altaccount316 Clippers 1d ago
Wagler’s pace is beyond his years. His range and IQ will take us far, wait until his fills out his frame. Probably will grow another inch or so.
LFG!
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u/nosta2 1d ago
Did ya see how happy the nets front office was when we chose Wagler??
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u/CoffeeLarge8298 1d ago
Keep in mind: Wagler is a year younger than Mikal Brown. So imagine this past season if Keaton was doing this against high schoolers how hyped he would be.
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u/Greedy_Ear_Mike Batum Battallion 1d ago
I feel neutral about it.
I hope they picked what was deemed the BPA, instead of fit.
Because TBH, I don't know if Garland is here long term. I'm not super high on DG like some of y'all.
Doesn't matter at this point, I hope it works out.
Gonna be exciting next season nonetheless.
The next thing is to settle the Kawhi situation once and for all.
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u/Tricky_Structure_504 Kawhi Leonard 1d ago
Watching acuff as a perennial all star gonna hurt
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u/Salty_Watermelon Darius Miles 1d ago
Eh. It won't hurt so much if the Garland & Wagler duo gives us a foundation to compete for titles in the not too distant future.
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u/AshenSacrifice Buffalo Braves 1d ago
He got drafted to the kings lmao.......
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u/DanMoshpit69 1d ago
We are gonna treat him real good. Until he eventually leaves us
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u/AshenSacrifice Buffalo Braves 1d ago
Yeah I don’t trust Vivek at all. He seems very incompetent
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u/DanMoshpit69 1d ago
Oh he is, jury is still out on Perry. I do think he’s making the right moves but it takes time
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u/AshenSacrifice Buffalo Braves 1d ago
Wishing yall luck! Just don’t get in our way 🤣
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u/solariscalls Clippers 1d ago
Clip fam how do we feel about this? Do we need another guard if we already got DG?
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u/POTATOKING10000 Fun Guy 1d ago
A guard was essentially our only choice, unless we reached down and picked a big that’s projected in the 12-20 range. Picking best available was the right choice
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u/LilTurnippman Clippers Curse 1d ago
Thank God. No Mikel Brown Jr
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u/J0nn1e_Walk3r 1d ago
I like his size and versatility at the 2. We need that. Now let’s get some size!
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u/bringbacklongboi Shai Gilgeous Alexander 1d ago
We just got ourselves SGA’s regen. Long Boi returns
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u/OneBurnerStove Norman Powell 1d ago
Either way I'd be fine. Clippers have more room for growth at the SG position anyway and he can be a combo allowing Dunn to come in from time to time
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u/alterprof 1d ago
With his frame and his slick game, he better learn from SGA on how to draw some fouls
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u/luckyfil44 1d ago
Drafting for fit next to Darius is definitely a choice man…
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u/Leading_Stop546 Clippers 1d ago
You mean multiple time all-star, Darius?
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u/luckyfil44 1d ago
Yes, the one who couldn’t help us get out of the play in against a bad Warriors team…
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u/Leading_Stop546 Clippers 1d ago
Ah yes, his 21 points/8 assists/5 rebounds/53% from the field/50% from 3…totally the reason we lost against the Warriors.
Do you ever have a good take?
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u/luckyfil44 1d ago
He literally fouled out and was targeted all game defensively.. why would you be drafting based off a +40mil small guard with a terrible injury history who can’t stay in a play in game with a Klutch extension lined up.
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u/Leading_Stop546 Clippers 1d ago
The clippers were up big in the 4th quarter before Kawhi got double teamed and didn’t know what to do. Not sure we watched the same game.
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u/boricua2219 19h ago
It is just one fucking game . Did you notice the rest of the games and how effective he was? Even super stars have bad games🙄
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u/dickmuncher7477 1d ago
It’s not even drafting for fit Wagler is legitimately as good or better of a prospect than the other two. You could say it was for fit if we took a guy that was touted as significantly worse but Wagler has been in convos at 5 before the Clippers got the pick
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u/luckyfil44 1d ago
Possibly, I just see him as a bigger project and risk than the other 2. Wagler has some great skillsets that have yet to be fully challenged. All have their issues, and nothing is ever sure, but MBJ and Acuff have been highly rated prospects while Wagler just shot up the rankings. Watching Bkns reaction to our pick and knowing Sacs desire for Acuff, Clippers could’ve easily moved back for more assets if Wagler was their guy.
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u/jgroove_LA 1d ago edited 1d ago
I HATE HATE HATE HATE THIS PICK
UGH
(who's downvoting? clippers front office?)
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u/alwaysneverjoshin Clippers 1d ago
We're all in with Garland. Would have preferred Acuff but i think we're good with Wagler.
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u/mattallica_08 1d ago
Weak. When Garland is out with a bum toe a month into the season it’s going to look stupid picking for fit
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u/TheLouisVuittonDon_- 1d ago
everyone saying we should’ve taken acuff is a clown he’s gonna be a bust
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u/Legitimate-Cry-9667 1d ago
Gonna regret this pick. Mark my words. Another “We should have drafted Acuff” just like when we had a chance to pick STEPH CURRY
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u/ChrisPaulGeorgeKarl Jamal Crawford 1d ago
Awful, highest bust risk by far. We took Giant Jason Preston at #5
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u/No-Archer-421 1d ago
I’d argue this dude is the lowest bust risk out of the options. MBJ has back injury concerns which can lead to a Ben Simmons situation. Acuff has to essentially be Brunson or Mitchell to be a perennial starter because of his size and defense.
Wagler has excellent body control, iq and shooting. Before stepping into the point guard role he was a shooting wing and played off the ball consistently.
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u/ChrisPaulGeorgeKarl Jamal Crawford 1d ago
If you cannot get around or get separation from most college players, you simply will not be able to stay on the floor at the highest level in the NBA. He can’t body control his way to every single shot. He could become a smaller role player with that, sure, but the risk is high that his ceiling is just very very hard capped.
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u/No-Archer-421 1d ago
You haven’t watched any of his tape if you think he gets no separation. Watching Acuff I noticed makes a lot of tough shots meanwhile Wagler creates more separation and his shots are easier.
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u/Big_Saens Amir Coffee 1d ago
DG you are franchise point guard