Keaton Wagler is one of the best players in the 2026 NBA Draft, and that could be a bad thing in the long run.
The NBA Draft is still about six weeks away, but on Sunday, they had the NBA Draft Lottery to see which franchises will pick in what spots among the top 14 picks in June’s draft. It also showed us where a former Illini could land in the draft process.
There were multiple gut punches for teams, the biggest being that the Indiana Pacers would have kept their pick if it landed in the top four. They ended up getting the fifth pick, which was then transferred to the Los Angeles Clippers because of the Ivica Zubac trade.
Another gut punch no one is talking about is the fact that the top teams have been a disaster for years now, and they can be places where a player’s career goes to die.
Now, I know that is why they are picking at the top of the draft. They are bad. But there is usually a team or two in the top eight that is good but just had a bad year due to injury. The Pacers would have been that team.
Picks No. 1 through No. 7 are to nowhere franchises right now. No. 1 Wizards, No. 2 Jazz, No. 3 Grizzlies, No. 4 Bulls, No. 5 Clippers, No. 6 Nets, and No. 7 Kings have so little hope. Which is why I am hoping Keaton Wagler drops in the draft a little bit.
Right now, in nearly every NBA mock draft, Wagler is projected to go in the top six. In all of the post-lottery mock drafts, everyone seems to have Wagler landing at No. 5 with the Clippers. If he does go that high, that would be the best landing spot, as they at least have an owner who is willing to spend.
There are plenty of great landing spots for Keaton Wagler with picks No. 8 and beyond in the NBA Draft
Wagler is a great player, and I just want to see him go to a team that isn’t just spinning its wheels year after year.
In my eyes, Wagler wouldn’t have to drop too far for him to get to a stable franchise. Pick No. 8 and on has a lot of great teams he could play for.
No. 8 is an up-and-coming Atlanta Hawks team. No. 9 could pair Wagler with Cooper Flagg in Dallas. No. 10 would enable Wagler to play with Giannis Antetokounmpo, maybe, with the Bucks. Golden State, Oklahoma City, Miami, and Charlotte round out the picks. All of them would be much better landing spots for Wagler.
Everyone knows Wagler is a great player and can help elevate a franchise. There is no way he drops past the top seven. It will be interesting to see how the next month or so plays out before the draft chaos begins.
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