With the 2026 NBA Draft set for June 23-24 at Barclays Center, recent reporting suggests Keaton Wagler is no longer the favorite to land with the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 5 overall.
For months, Wagler had been viewed as one of the safest bets in the lottery and a strong fit for a Clippers team searching for long-term backcourt help. However, multiple reports released this week indicate momentum has shifted away from the Illinois guard as Los Angeles continues to evaluate other options.
In his latest mock draft for Yahoo Sports, Kevin O’Connor projected Wagler to the Sacramento Kings at No. 7 rather than the Clippers at No. 5. O’Connor cited growing skepticism around the league regarding Wagler’s standing in Los Angeles and noted that his camp recently canceled a scheduled workout with the Brooklyn Nets, who own the sixth pick.
“The Kings are working out Keaton Wagler next week, according to league sources,” O’Connor wrote. “There was a bit of shock on social media when I moved Wagler down last week. But inevitably, someone will slip on draft night. And it could be Wagler, since league sources say the Clippers aren’t head over heels in love with him for the fifth pick and Wagler’s group canceled his workout this week with the Nets, who have the sixth pick.”
NBA Draft concerns emerge as Keaton Wagler falls out of Clippers projections
Despite the slide, O’Connor emphasized that Wagler remains a lottery-caliber prospect after leading Illinois to an unexpected Final Four appearance. He praised Wagler’s playmaking instincts and scoring ability while comparing him to players such as Tyrese Haliburton and Kevin Martin.
At the same time, O’Connor noted concerns that have surfaced during the evaluation process. League decision-makers reportedly question Wagler’s athletic upside and whether his shooting profile is elite enough to overcome those limitations at the next level.
The skepticism surrounding Wagler aligns with recent reporting from ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, who also projected the guard to fall out of the top five. In Siegel’s latest mock draft, Wagler lands with the Atlanta Hawks at No. 8.
“Many tend to believe Keaton Wagler is the next best player in the 2026 NBA Draft behind the top four, but there has been a growing sense of skepticism over the last week that he will be the Clippers’ selection with the No. 5 pick,” Siegel wrote.
Instead, the player increasingly linked to Los Angeles is Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr.
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According to Siegel, Brown’s draft stock continues to soar following a strong recovery from the back injury that limited portions of his freshman season. Multiple teams with top-10 picks have reportedly been impressed with his private workouts, and Brown has become one of the most commonly connected prospects to the Clippers.
Siegel reported that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and president Lawrence Frank have both attended Brown’s workouts in person. Brown is also expected to meet with Los Angeles before the draft.
“The rumor around the NBA in recent days is that Mikel Brown Jr. and his camp have shut down workout invites outside of those already accepted, which likely signals that a team has promised him following individual meetings and workouts,” Siegel wrote.
The uncertainty surrounding Los Angeles extends beyond specific prospects. League personnel continue to believe a trade could occur somewhere between picks No. 5 and No. 8 as teams jockey for position among a tightly packed group of guards and forwards.
Whether the Clippers ultimately keep the fifth pick, trade down, or select a different guard altogether remains unclear. What appears increasingly evident, however, is that Wagler is no longer viewed as the overwhelming favorite to hear his name called by Los Angeles on draft night.
The post Clippers rumors: Why Keaton Wagler’s No. 5 pick stock is falling appeared first on ClutchPoints.
