Why the Clippers believe No. 5 pick Keaton Wagler pairs well with Darius Garland

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — When the LA Clippers were planning Intuit Dome, they envisioned cheering deep playoff runs there, and perhaps a championship. It was unlikely that celebrating a top-five draft pick was on the list of events to fete, particularly without any foreseeable first-round picks.

But that was the scene on the corner of Century Boulevard and Prairie Avenue, with Clippers fans filing in ahead of the first round of Tuesday night’s NBA Draft. When the Clippers went on the clock with the fifth pick, it was loud with hype and anticipation. Then, they took Illinois point guard Keaton Wagler.

There were no surprises and no shenanigans. No trading down or out, and no selecting any of the other guards who wound up populating the rest of the top 10. They stayed away from the Michigan bigs, too. The Clippers had a type, and they stuck with it.

“For us, the way we defined how we were gonna select the player at five was, ‘Who has the best chance to be the best player we can get on the next Clipper contending team?’” said president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank after selecting the 19-year-old Wagler. “It was an exhaustive process. We were very, very fortunate to be able to work out and spend a great deal of time with a very, very talented group of guys. Ranged from all the guards to the bigs to the wings. We really challenged each other … you just look at just big picture, who is the best player for the Clippers’ next contending roster? And we landed on Keaton.”

Frank went on to highlight the traits and intangibles that Wagler brings to the table, saying he’s “someone who’s extremely hungry and driven to improve, someone who embodies the work ethic, the resilience, the dedication of everybody who works with the Clippers.”

That’s nice and all, but this is professional basketball. To play requires skills, and there is a demand that they are shown. Wagler’s skill set at 6-foot-5 was a key differentiator for the Clippers.

“We put a big premium on positional size,” said Frank, echoing a theme of previous Clippers teams that favored bigger guards with additional shooting and defensive abilities while putting the onus on Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to be primary playmakers. “Keaton can play both on and off the ball. He can play two positions. Then, skill. Guys who can dribble, pass, and shoot. He can do all three at a very, very high level. And then I think a couple things that separate Keaton that make him special: his basketball IQ, feel and craftiness. There’s a lot when people talk about players now, processing speed, and Keaton very much has a very quick processor.”

Wagler’s ability to play multiple positions is important. A major part of this draft for the Clippers was how it would reflect on Darius Garland, the 6-foot-1 star point guard acquired in exchange for James Harden in February. The Clippers had their pick of guards, but Wagler was the best fit due to his positional versatility. He can play with Garland, or in place of Garland. He can play on the ball and get his game off, or he can play off the ball and be effective. Wagler’s height gives him an opportunity to guard bigger players, even if he needs to continue adding strength to a frame that features a short wingspan and relatively underwhelming athleticism.

Garland’s input in this class was particularly interesting. The two-time All-Star has had a “tremendous” offseason, according to Frank. In addition to the work Garland has put in, he watched pre-draft workouts and encouraged the Clippers to take the best player, regardless of position.

“He was great,” Frank said of Garland. “He gave great input. There are a bunch of players. He’s like, ‘Man, it’s a really hard decision.’ And I think he kind of took himself out of it and just in the sense of, whether it’s strictly a one-position player or if it’s someone who doesn’t play the point guard, just getting the best player. And I think he’s really, really happy with Keaton.”

At the draft, Wagler noted his ability to play with another guard like Garland, who was drafted at the same spot seven years ago. Theirs will be an important relationship to observe.

“I think I’m going to bring a lot of versatility on the floor and being able to play on and off the ball alongside Garland,” said Wagler. “When he has the ball in his hands, be ready to space and shoot the ball. When I have the ball in my hands, just being aggressive to make plays for myself and others.”

Another player relevant to Wagler’s selection was Leonard, who will turn 35 next week. Frank mentioned that the “plan still is to win with Kawhi, but the bigger plan is how … we understand we’re not a contender. We’re competitive. How are we going to get back to contention?”

Leonard is entering the final year of his contract, and with the Clippers in transition, there will be curiosity about his availability, even if he signs a contract extension. Some of that could carry over, as the league investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented the salary cap goes continues. Frank said doesn’t know when the investigation will conclude but reaffirmed the organization’s innocence.

In the meantime, the Clippers drafted a type of player in Wagler with whom Leonard prefers to play.

“Kawhi loves size, he loves shooting, he loves skill, he loves IQ, he loves feel,” Frank said. “Those are the types of players that he’s always kind of been attracted to. We always have ongoing conversations. You know, Kawhi’s had some trips. He’s been out and about a little bit, but we’ve sat down over the last couple weeks and we’re always in constant communication with Kawhi and his representation.”

Wagler was only the first part of the draft for the Clippers. They enter the second round with two picks, at 36 and 52. The expectation is that 36 could be a standard contract, while 52 is expected to be a two-way contract. But the Clippers are keeping their options open. They could use a big to develop, while adding shooting on a two-way.

“There’s always good players,” Frank said. “We’ve been very fortunate that we found some really good players and credit to our scouts for doing it. So we’re hopeful in what plays out tomorrow night that we’re able to find two good players. Whether it’s combining the picks, whether it’s doing something different with the picks, we’ll be open to all possibilities.”