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By Anne Erickson
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The Los Angeles Clippers have spent so many years trying to win with veterans, but that approach finally reached its breaking point last season.
Sometimes reaching a breaking point is a good thing. Now, the franchise is looking toward the future. That’s where Keaton Wagler comes in.
The 19-year-old guard could be the Clippers' x-factor heading into the 2026 season as the team starts building what comes next after the Kawhi Leonard era.
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Los Angeles hasn't had a top-five pick since selecting Blake Griffin in 2009, so getting a chance to add a young player this high in the draft was a rare opportunity. The Clippers used that opportunity on Wagler, a guard who brings a different type of skill set than the typical high-upside prospect.
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He isn't just a player hoping to develop someday. Wagler already showed he could run an offense during his freshman season at Illinois, helping power one of the best offensive attacks in college basketball. He's a smart playmaker who can create for teammates. He can also keep the offense moving.
Those skills could make him a sweet fit next to Darius Garland.
The Clippers' new roster will have plenty of offensive creativity. Neither player brings overwhelming size, but their ability to shoot and create could help LA find a new identity. That’s exactly what the team needs.
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The Clippers have relied on proven veterans for years, but the next era will depend on young players stepping into bigger roles. Wagler gives them someone to build around and a player who could grow alongside the rest of the roster.
LA also added Baba Miller, Nick Martinelli and Narcisse Ngoy in the later rounds, but Wagler is the player who will draw the most attention.
There will be plenty of pressure that comes with being a top-five pick, especially for a franchise moving into a new phase. But if Wagler can bring the same confidence and creativity he showed at Illinois, he could become the type of player who helps the Clippers in the best way.
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