There are going to plenty of choices for the Dallas Mavericks if they stick to No. 9 in the NBA Draft, but one Western Conference foe is giving them the chance to strike gold in the draft for someone that's been on their watch for the last few months.
Illinois guard Keaton Wagler has been a name to watch, and with the Clippers at No. 5, he's likely to get picked by L.A., which is four spots below the Mavericks at No. 9. Kevin O'Connor from Yahoo Sports says he's got intel from league sources saying the Clippers are interested in trading down from No. 5.
"League sources widely expect the Clippers to listen to trade-down offers for the fifth pick."Kevin O'Connor
Mavericks have an opening to draft Keaton Wagler if Clippers trade down
The only bump in the road here is the Oklahoma City Thunder, as O'Connor says the Thunder can give them No. 12, No. 17 and a player. The Mavs do have No. 9 and No. 30 and can offer the Clippers a player, too. The Mavs having an earlier pick could be the icing on the cake, but the late first-rounder for Dallas would be what could set them back.
Wagler blew the college basketball world by surprise. Even though he was a four-star guard out of Shawnee, Kansas, he was the No. 143 player ranked nationally. Wagler eventually went on to win Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and score the most points in Mackey Arena in its entire history as an opposing player.
It would be a lot to go for a Hail Mary just for Wagler, but the Mavs may not have another opportunity to get a valuable pick like this again, as the Mavs don't control their own first-round pick fully until 2031. Wagler is too fine a player to pass up on for a team that desperately needs to form a long-term duo for Cooper Flagg.
Wagler has also said that he sees the Mavericks as a really good fit for him, and honestly, most would agree. He's a hybrid guard who can play point guard and shooting guard and should be a Day 1 starter if drafted.
Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. has been another name to watch as someone who can realistically fall to No. 9. Kingston Flemings from Houston is gaining traction, as is Brayden Burries from Arizona, who is apparently drawing more interest from the Mavericks.
There's nothing wrong here, but it's almost like the Clippers are opening the door to trade down for more assets. Kawhi Leonard is not getting any younger, and a mix of a seasoned NBA player along with draft capital is what the Clippers need to move in that direction.
However, the Thunder are in better position to create a package and beat the Mavericks to the punch.
It's looking like Wagler will be picked at No. 5 by the Clippers, so the Mavs need to plan accordingly if they want to be aggressive toward securing their dream pick.
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