Keaton Wagler posts 15 points, five assists

Wagler played 18 minutes on Sunday and finished a blocked shot shy of a complete stat line. The rookie guard was efficient against the Pelicans and has scored in double figures in seven of his nine appearances. Wagler remains a deep-league option in redraft formats, and that may change once players like Brandon Ingram and Bradley Beal get healthy.

Murray quotes Ingram as saying, “Whenever I feel ready. I still gotta do some more 5-on-5 and get comfortable on the floor, comfortable jumping and doing stuff that I do normally on the floor. It’s going to take a little time.” Fantasy managers rostering Ingram could have him back in the coming weeks, but until he’s back, Keaton Wagler and Max Strus should enjoy elevated roles.

A double-digit scorer in each of his first three regular-season games, Wagler finished Wednesday’s defeat with his first 20-point game. The rookie took advantage of the foul line against the Lakers, scoring 10 of his 21 points at the charity stripe. However, Wagler continues to struggle from the field, shooting 31.6 percent. The good news for fantasy managers is that he’s found other ways to provide value, making him a player worth rostering for those willing to take the field-goal percentage hit.

Wagler started Wednesday’s preseason finale and played 28 minutes. Even with Kris Dunn expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, injuries to Brandon Ingram, Bradley Beal and Max Strus mean that the lottery pick out of Illinois should play regular minutes immediately. Wagler may not be the most reliable option in redraft leagues, but he will be highly valuable in dynasty leagues.

Strus exited his unofficial Clippers debut in the first half after five minutes. On Monday, it was learned that he suffered a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his right foot and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. With Brandon Ingram (heel/Achilles) also out, Strus’ injury pushes rookie Keaton Wagler up draft boards. The rookie logged 30 minutes on Sunday and could take on a significant workload if Bradley Beal also isn’t ready for the regular season.

The rookie led all players in minutes and FGA (15). He shot just 3-of-15 from the floor and 1-of-11 from beyond the arc, but he came in clutch when it counted. Wagler scored nine points in the final frame, including a go-ahead step-back 19-footer with 14 seconds left to give the Clippers a 102-101 lead which they would not relinquish. Wagler should be heavily involved in LA’s rotation from Day 1, making him an interesting, late-round selection in 12-team fantasy basketball leagues.

This is a major blow for the Clippers as they enter the post-Kawhi Leonard era. During his media availability, Ingram said he’s considered week-to-week. With BI on the shelf, Max Strus, Keaton Wagler and Gradey Dick are all candidates to see increased run. The rookie Wagler has the most upside and makes for a fine, late-round selection in fantasy drafts.

Miller’s injury could mean additional run for Keaton Wagler and Kris Dunn, though the pair will compete with Gradey Dick, Bradley Beal and Darius Garland for minutes.

Wagler shot 1-of-5 from beyond the arc in Tuesday’s defeat, which dented his overall field-goal percentage. However, the rookie committed just one turnover and appeared more at ease than in his summer league debut on Thursday. Wagler’s size and playmaking ability may add a dimension to the Clippers’ backcourt that was missing last season, as Darius Garland and Kris Dunn are smaller guards. With the Kawhi Leonard trade on hold, it’s still unclear what the roster will look like when training camp opens. Regardless of what happens, Wagler’s development will be critical for the Clippers moving forward.

Wagler’s first game as a Clipper was certainly disappointing. The physicality clearly impacted him and prevented him from getting to his spots. That was a big part of his game in college and was why the Clippers took him with the No. 5 overall pick. There’s no reason to sound the alarms yet, but he is certainly going to have to get stronger to have success in the NBA. He’ll look to bounce back against the Jazz on Sunday.