The Chicago Bulls may have quietly stumbled onto their next backcourt centerpiece - and he’s not even in the NBA yet. Keaton Wagler, a freshman guard at Illinois, is rapidly turning heads as a potential top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. And with Coby White now in Charlotte, Wagler’s rise couldn’t be better timed.
Let’s rewind for a moment. The Bulls sent White to the Hornets in a trade deadline move that, frankly, left a lot to be desired.
In return, they picked up Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng, and three second-round picks. That haul got even lighter when one of those picks fell through and Dieng was flipped to the Bucks for Nick Richards.
To make matters more frustrating, Dieng just posted a monster stat line in Milwaukee: 19 points, 11 boards, six assists, four blocks, a steal, and three triples in a win over OKC. Ouch.
But here’s where things get interesting for Chicago: Wagler is emerging as a legitimate star in Champaign, and he might just be the long-term answer at guard the Bulls didn’t know they had lined up.
Keaton Wagler: From Under-the-Radar Recruit to Big Ten Breakout
Wagler wasn’t exactly a household name coming into college hoops. He was ranked 150th in the 2025 class by 247Sports - a four-star recruit, sure, but not someone pegged for stardom right out of the gate. That narrative has changed in a hurry.
Now? He’s averaging 18.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game for a top-10 Illinois squad.
His shooting splits - 46% from the field, 44% from deep, and 80% from the line - are elite, especially for a freshman. He leads the Big Ten in three-point percentage, has started every game, and sports a 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio - all while carrying a usage rate just shy of 25%.
And then there’s that game against Purdue. On the road, against a perennial powerhouse, Wagler exploded for 46 points on 13-of-17 shooting, including a scorching 9-of-11 from beyond the arc. That kind of performance doesn’t just catch the eye - it slams the door open in NBA front offices.
Wagler’s blend of size (6-foot-6), feel for the game, shot-making, and poise under pressure has vaulted him into top-10 territory in what’s shaping up to be a stacked draft class. He’s not the most explosive athlete, and at 180 pounds, there are questions about how he’ll hold up defensively.
But offensively? He’s got tools you just can’t teach.
A Backcourt Built for the Modern Game?
If the Bulls do land Wagler in the draft, pairing him with Josh Giddey could give Chicago one of the most intriguing young backcourts in the league. Giddey, at 6-foot-8, brings elite vision and playmaking.
Wagler adds scoring punch and knockdown shooting. Both are smart, unselfish players who can operate on or off the ball - a rare combo in today’s NBA.
Wagler’s shooting, in particular, fills a void left by White. While White brought speed and scoring, Wagler’s a more efficient shooter and has shown flashes of being a better decision-maker with the ball. Defensively, neither is a stopper, but if the Bulls can surround them with length and switchability - think Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue - the pieces start to fit.
A Core Worth Watching
With Giddey, Buzelis, Essengue, and potentially Wagler, the Bulls could be building a versatile, high-IQ core with real upside. It’s a group that doesn’t just play with skill, but with feel - something that’s often underrated in team construction. And for a franchise that’s been stuck in the middle for too long, that kind of identity could be a game-changer.
A few months ago, Wagler wasn’t even on the radar as a potential answer in Chicago’s backcourt. Now? He might be the perfect fit - hiding in plain sight.