On Sunday afternoon, the 2026 NBA draft lottery took place, cementing the order of the top 14 picks (barring any future trades). The key storylines: the Washington Wizards own the No. 1 pick, the Chicago Bulls jumped into the top four and, most importantly for Illinois’ Keaton Wagler , the Indiana Pacers’ top-four-protected pick fell to No. 5, which grants the Los Angeles Clippers the selection.

Given Wagler’s skill set is viewed by many scouts as malleable, the 6-foot-6 guard can slot into a lead ballhandler role or serve as an off-ball creator. In other words, the Clippers already boasting a standout lead guard (Darius Garland) won’t discourage them from pursuing Wagler with that No.…