Although there is a prominent flaw or concern with every basically every prospect in the 2026 draft class, Keaton Wagler’s, and the fact that he didn’t dunk, not even once, for Illinois as a freshman despite being six-foot-six, stands out like a sore thumb. That’s actually very scary, which has led many to believe that a smarter choice with the LA Clippers’ extremely high selection is Mikel Brown Jr. from the Louisville Cardinals.
Brown Jr. is by no means perfect, as he has red flags on defense and arguably brings the most injury concern out of everyone. But, he feels like a better long-term option for the Clippers’ franchise due to his very few offensive weaknesses.
Mikel Brown Jr. needs to be the pick over Keaton Wagler
On paper, there is no debate about how great Keaton Wagler is. He’s truly as good as they come, with a sure-fire skillset that allows him to score and make plays at will, and at ease.
In fact, for Illinois, Wagler averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, shooting 44.5% from the field and 39.7% from beyond the arc.
On the contrary, the problem lies in his lack of athleticism and in his reliance on his shot-making a bit too much at the collegiate level.
That’s not necessarily the best sign, as, in the NBA, the game is played much differently, and it may be harder for him to make an impact.
Additionally, his case worsens with his two-point shooting percentage at 48.9%. This instantly hints at some troubles that may arise for Wagler right away. If he wasn't efficient to the level fans would like for Illinois, what's the guarantee he can do better at a level of ball that's much tougher?
With Brown Jr., though, there doesn’t appear to be much fear. His back feels great (he was cleared), the three-level scoring abilities he brings jump off the chart, and he recently revealed that he’s studying to be a great defender through the film of some of the best in the league, like Jrue Holiday.
Mikel Brown Jr. says he watches a lot of defensive film from players on Oklahoma City and San Antonio— as well as 6x All-Defensive guard Jrue Holiday, via @YahooSports.
— APHoops (@APH00PS) May 27, 2026
“I’ve actually been watching a lot of good defenders and how they defend in the playoffs. You got Cason… pic.twitter.com/xJiuDAMYDw
These are valuable traits that don't go unnoticed, particularly his desire to improve in an area where he didn't prosper at Louisville.
So, at fifth overall, the choice needs to be fit, but also someone with greater abilities to thrive in the NBA. And, right now, that seems to be Brown Jr. over Wagler.
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