Wagler records first 20-point game Wednesday

In a matchup of lottery picks, Wagler had a much better night than Sacramento’s Darius Acuff Jr. The former Illinois standout played 29 minutes off the bench, sharing the court with Darius Garland and taking a few short stints as the lone playmaker. Wagler was efficient, and while you shouldn’t overreact to one game, it wouldn’t hurt to add him now if he’s on the waiver wire in deep leagues.

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.

Wagler came off the bench to begin his freshman season, but things changed when Illinois lost Kylan Boswell to a broken hand. In addition to moving into the starting five, the 6-foot-5 Wagler had the ball in his hands more, and he took full advantage. Averaging 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.4 three-pointers, Wagler shot 44.5 percent from the field, 39.7 percent from three and 79.6 percent from the foul line. Wagler can both score and facilitate, and he has the length needed to affect passing lanes defensively. The Clippers’ acquired this pick from the Pacers in the Ivica Zubac trade, and the gamble paid off. Wagler should start alongside Darius Garland in the backcourt, where he’ll see plenty of reps both on and off the ball. Worst case scenario, he plays a large reserve role as Garland’s backup in year one, though he should be a big part of this franchise’s future.