New NBA Draft Rumors Link Keaton Wagler to 2 Potential Landing Spots amid Top-5 Buzz

Multiple teams near the top of the 2026 NBA draft order are reportedly monitoring Illinois guard Keaton Wagler.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Woo, the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers are "closely studying" Wagler during the pre-draft process.

The Clippers own the No. 5 overall pick in the draft while the Nets hold the No. 6 selection.

Wagler's draft range is "unlikely to stretch far beyond those teams," per Woo.

The 19-year-old earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year recognition for his 2025-26 campaign, averaging 17.9 points and 5.1 rebounds to go along with 4.2 assists per game. He shot 44.5 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from three-point territory.

Wagler stepped up during Illinois' NCAA tournament run that ended in the Final Four, recording 18.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game on 43.7/37.1/71.4 shooting splits in five March Madness appearances.

He was projected to be selected by the Sacramento Kings with the No. 7 overall choice in the latest mock draft from Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman.

"Wagler should be considered interchangeable with his size and shooting, but he showed enough off-the-dribble navigation, passing, pull-ups and floaters at Illinois for the Kings to feel confident that they can give him initiator duties," Wasserman wrote.

The 2026 draft will begin on June 23 at 8 p.m. ET.