The day every fan had been waiting for, since his name was called on draft night, finally arrived: Keaton Wagler’s summer league debut. The LA Clippers faced off against the Sacramento Kings, led by Darius Acuff Jr. Although there was a ton of hype behind this matchup, Wagler disappointed heavily, sending the organization a loud and clear message that he will need more time than expected to develop at the highest level.
For context, Wagler posted seven points, two rebounds, one assist, and one turnover in 27 minutes, shooting 1-7 from the field and 1-5 from beyond the arc. These numbers look bad enough, and when you factor in how uncomfortable, scared, and passive he looked, it’s obvious the 19-year-old isn’t ready just yet.
So, the Clippers better get ready to wait, as Wagler will take time to blossom into the best version of himself.
Keaton Wagler is a project the Clippers will have to devote time to
Unlike many of the other rookies selected around the fifth overall pick, Keaton Wagler showed prominent signs of struggle. The worst part? They didn’t fade away, like jitters typically do. Rather, from start to finish, Wagler failed to show he belonged in the NBA.
At first glance, the numbers Wagler recorded suggest he was terribly inefficient, couldn’t create much for his teammates, and didn’t fully use his size.
Now, when you actually dig deep into the film, Wagler’s debut in the summer league looks even rougher.
The main concern Wagler showed was his inability to get past his defender. For much of the game, Darius Acuff Jr. was guarding him, and though he’s known as a poor defender, the Sacramento Kings’ guard seemed to be doing a solid job.
And even when someone else was in front of Wagler, no real positive impact was made.
It got to the point where Wagler couldn’t create enough space to even get a shot off, which is not a good look for someone drafted so high.
That said, in the grand scheme of things, Wagler just needs time. Understandably so, accepting that might be difficult for a fanbase that’s been starved of a lottery pick for seven years, and particularly while guys like Darryn Peterson are performing well, but it’s the truth.
For what it’s worth, the rookie is in a good situation, with a great mentor in Darius Garland and an environment that prioritizes youth.
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