In what has been called one of the deepest NBA draft pools in recent history, the Clippers are in the enviable position of holding the No. 5 pick heading into Tuesday’s first round.
While their high draft spot is desirable, it also presents them with options.
The Clippers could easily use their No. 5 pick and draft a player from the guard-heavy pool, or opt to trade down and gather assets. Additionally they could package the pick as part of a trade that would land them an established star.
The Clippers acquired this top-four protected lottery pick from the Indiana Pacers as part of the February trade that sent center Ivica Zubac to Indiana, and the draft lottery played out as well as it could have for the Clippers, giving them their highest draft position since 2010 and a chance to address one of their needs.
It’s widely believed that the Clippers will hang onto the fifth pick and grab a talented young player who would bolster their backcourt and add the ball handling depth behind two-time All-Star Darius Garland that was missing after 11-time All-Star James Harden was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Garland at the deadline.
But who?
The top four picks are projected to be, in some order, BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Kansas combo guard Darryn Peterson, Duke power forward Cameron Boozer and North Carolina forward/center Caleb Wilson. After that, the Clippers will have their choice of the next tier of young players.
The player who is most talked about heading to the Clippers is Keaton Wagler, a 6-foot-6 guard out of Illinois who can read the floor and attack from angles as a tall on-ball playmaker. He averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 39.7% from 3-point range as a freshman for the Illini last season and can play either guard spot.
Jeremy Woo, an ESPN draft analyst, called Wagler a smart player who can make last-second decisions. At 6-6, he could be a better fit alongside Garland.
“He has the size, and he has this brain where you see how quickly he’s improved,” Woo said during a pre-draft conference call. “And that, to me, is the biggest thing. I just think people will continue to learn more about him.”
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Paul Biancardi, ESPN’s National Recruiting Director for High School Basketball, said Wagler is a surprise high draft choice after leading the Illini to their first Final Four appearance in 21 years.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I see this coming. He didn’t have enough body of work and certainly didn’t have the physical attributes at the time (but) he did have the skill level,” Biancardi said.
“I never thought about ranking him in the top 100 (coming out of high school) based on what everyone else did and what he did at the time. But I love the way he processes the game.”
If the Clippers don’t take Wagler, they could take a chance on Mikel Brown Jr., a point guard from Louisville who possesses positional size, shot-making skills and on-court vision.
Brown was plagued by a back injury that sidelined him for 14 games last season, but he tested healthy at the draft combine, where he showed that he has the kind of size and shooting ability that would add depth to any team.
He averaged 18.2 points and 4.7 assists last season but at 6-5 and 180 pounds, Brown needs to add strength and weight to compete at the higher level.
“In my mind, him (Wagler) and Mikel Brown are outstanding,” Biancardi said.
But those aren’t the Clippers’ only options. They could consider Darius Acuff Jr., a 6-3 point guard from Arkansas or Houston’s Kingston Flemings, another point guard.
Acuff has often been linked to the Sacramento Kings, who hold the No. 7 pick, but the Clippers could upend the Kings’ plans and take the confident guard who reportedly said he was “gonna be the best player” to come out of this year’s draft class.
Acuff was a first-team AP All-American after leading the Razorbacks to their first conference title in 25 years. He ranked third nationally in scoring (23.5 points per game) and 14th in assists (6.4).
But he has struggled defensively, especially against bigger guards.
“That’s just the way I’m carrying it throughout my whole career,” Acuff told Clutch Points.
Flemings is another guard who has been described as a player who can get to just about any spot on the court. The 6-3, 183-pound freshman was a third-team All-American as a lead guard with the ability to be a disruptor on defense, especially in transition.
Brayden Burries, a 6-4 shooting guard from Arizona, boasts a polished two-way game and versatility, a style that has been compared to Orlando’s Desmond Bane, with similar strength and physicality. After a decorated prep career at Eastvale Roosevelt High, he averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals for a Wildcats team that went 36-3 and reached the national championship game last season. His perimeter defense and 3-point shooting could make him a good fit for the Clippers.
Woo said if the top four all go as predicted, that leaves the Clippers in “an interesting spot at five.”
“They’ve got options, including trades,” he said. “… There’s been a lot of interest in all those guys – Keaton, Acuff, Mikel Brown, Flemings. They’re all different stylistically, so it depends on team fit and preference.”
The Clippers also own the Nos. 36 and 52 picks in the second round, where they have had recent success in finding developmental prospects who can add depth to the roster. Jordan Miller (No. 48, 2023). Cam Christie (No. 46, 2024) and Terance Mann (No. 48, 2019) were all late second-round picks.