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.
