Brandon Ingram’s injury has changed the shape of the LA Clippers’ opening-night picture, and it may have handed rookie Keaton Wagler the exact runway he needs.
Ingram, who is dealing with a partially torn Achilles tendon, is one of several players the Clippers already expect to be unavailable when the season starts. Max Strus is out with a partially torn plantar fascia in his right foot, Bradley Beal is sidelined by knee inflammation, and Jordan Miller is recovering from a torn left rotator cuff.
That leaves the Clippers sorting through a thin group on the wing and in the backcourt, with no clear winner in the fight for minutes at guard and small forward. The upside of that mess is obvious: whoever steps forward can grab real playing time, maybe even a starting job, and possibly carve out a role as the second offensive option behind Darius Garland, who can’t shoulder the entire load alone.
Rui Hachimura brings outside shooting and physicality, but the Clippers still need another player who can manufacture offense with the ball in his hands. That’s where Wagler comes in.
The rookie was the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft, and he entered the league with obvious talent and obvious room to grow. Illinois used him as its primary offensive piece when injuries hit the roster, and he answered by becoming one of college basketball’s best playmakers. That breakout freshman season helped carry the Fighting Illini to the NCAA Final Four.
He has kept building momentum since then. In Summer League, Wagler closed with 26 points, four rebounds and two assists.
In the preseason, he flashed a little of everything: a game-winning buzzer-beater against the Warriors, even while shooting just 3-for-17 from deep through his first four outings. Then against the Nuggets, he made his first start, went 3-for-7 from three, scored 12 points, handed out four assists and did it without a turnover in his cleanest preseason performance.
He also played a team-high 28 minutes and looked far more comfortable than he had in his first two appearances.
With the opener nearing, the Clippers still need scoring and three-point shooting next to Garland. Given the injuries and the openings they create, Wagler may already be the best answer on the roster.
In Other News...
Clippers Get An Early Crosstown Test Against A Former Laker
The early part of the new season is going to give Los Angeles basketball fans a familiar subplot, with the Lakers opening against Golden State before turning right around to face the Clippers and one of their former rotation pieces in Rui Hachimura. Hachimura landed with the Clippers in free agency after leaving the Lakers, while Austin Reaves stuck in purple and gold on a four-year extension, setting up a little more cross-town familiarity than usual when the teams meet early.
Reaves already offered a lighthearted view of Hachimura during a practice interview, which only adds to the intrigue of seeing him in a different uniform so quickly. For the Clippers, it is an early chance to see how a recent addition fits into a rivalry game that tends to carry extra weight anyway, especially when the opponent across the hallway knows the player almost as well as they do. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Open Against A Kings Team Already Facing Rotation Trouble
The Kings are heading into their season opener in Los Angeles already short-handed, with three players ruled out and another on the questionable list because of injuries. Sacramento will have to navigate the first night of the season without Ben Simmons, who is out for the year with a right Achilles tendon rupture, while the Clippers will also be dealing with their own availability issues, with five players ruled out for the matchup.
That leaves some uncertainty on both sides before the 7:30 p.m. PT tip, but Sacramentos backcourt situation is the one worth monitoring closest. Malik Monk is the questionable name after missing preseason and getting back to practice this week, and his status could shape how the Kings handle an opener that already comes with some rotation pressure. [Read more 🡒]
John Collins Pistons Debut Reminded Clippers Fans Why They Moved On
John Collins first game in a Pistons uniform offered a quick reminder of why the Clippers were comfortable letting him walk. After signing a three-year deal in Detroit, Collins stepped into a new role and immediately found himself under the microscope, with his debut turning into a rough early snapshot of the same uneven play that followed him out of Los Angeles.
The bigger issue for Detroit was how hard it was to keep him on the floor when the game tightened up. Collins had trouble with defensive switches and positioning, and J.B. Bickerstaff eventually turned to Javonte Green as the Pistons mounted their comeback. For Clippers fans, it was the kind of debut that made the separation look a lot easier to understand. [Read more 🡒]