Clippers Could Find The Perfect Darius Garland Complement in NBA Draft

In a famed trade move, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded Darius Garland and a 2026 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for James Harden.

It was a huge move at the time and changed both of these franchises.

But, now it’s time for the Clippers to capitalize on Garland and get him an apt complement. The best place to do that is in the NBA draft, where they can pin down a top talent who’s young and coachable at a bargain price.

The Clippers have the No. 5 pick in the draft, acquired via the Indiana Pacers. That’s a sweet spot, but they’ll likely miss out on the big-named players in this draft, like Cameron Boozer and AJ Dybantsa. But, there will be plenty of talent left for them by the time No. 5 rolls around.

Jeremy Woo of ESPN predicts the Clippers will land point guard Keaton Wagler.

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“Rival teams believe Wagler is among the top options for the Clippers if they make this pick,” he says in the piece. “Last week, he opted to cancel multiple workouts inside the top 10, a sign he feels comfortable with his standing. His versatility and fast-rising trajectory have given him broad appeal with every team in the 5-10 range, and he isn’t expected to be on the board long if he falls past No. 5.”

What Player is The Perfect Darius Garland Complement For The Clippers?

If the Clippers go the “best available player” route in the draft, they’d be smart to take Wagler. He’s a strong player who can contribute from day one.

But, if they want a complement to Garland, they may be better off looking elsewhere. The Clippers could benefit from adding Mikel Brown Jr. or Brayden Burries, and those players would serve as better complements to Garland.

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But, Wagler has the size and stability that would make him the most impactful player out of the gate for the Clippers. So, they may decide to go with him and see it as a long-term move for the franchise.

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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 3:56 PM.