The NBA Playoffs first round just concluded, and it was a thrilling ride with multiple former Illinois basketball players still alive for the coveted Larry O’Brien Trophy.
NBA aspirations are there for many college basketball players, and after a Final Four run, the Illini plan on sending at least one more player into the NBA Draft.
The NBA Draft is set to take place on June 23 and 24, so there is still a little time. With that being said, the NBA Draft Lottery will take place on May 10. This will determine the top 14 picks in this year’s draft.
After Keaton Wagler’s great freshman campaign, he entered his name into the draft sweepstakes. Why? Because he is a lock to be one of those top 14 picks. When you are a draft lottery player, you don’t come back for another year.
Being one of those top picks also likely means you are going to be drafted to a bad team. Good teams don’t tend to pick that high. In one of the latest 2026 NBA Mock Drafts, they have Wagler going to a team that needs a level head right now.
Jeremy Woo of ESPN produced a mock draft, and with pick No. 6 overall, he has the Memphis Grizzlies selecting Wagler.
The Grizzlies are a bit of a lost franchise right now. They have had some good seasons, but their leader, Ja Morant, has caused more chaos than stability lately.
Morant has dealt with a suspension, which caused Memphis to miss the playoffs a couple of years ago. He has also been plagued by injuries, which have tanked this season.
Over the last couple of years, Memphis has also jettisoned some good talent, Desmond Bane being the gold standard right now, as he helped the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic take the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons to seven games in the first round.
Keaton Wagler can bring some stability and calmness to a franchise in the Memphis Grizzlies that desperately needs it
Drafting Wagler would give the Grizzlies one of the most level-headed players I have ever seen on the court. Wagler doesn’t get too up or down in any situation. He is always going to stay cool, calm, and collected.
There are two things I think could hold Wagler back in Memphis. The first is that Morant is still there. He is a ball-dominant guard who is going to command a lot of attention. He is signed through the 2027-28 season, as well.
The other thing that worries me about Memphis is that they just aren’t a good team. Morant dropped off a lot. They then have a collection of random players who don’t fit well together. Ty Jerome was technically their leading scorer last season, and that is never a good thing.
Honestly, at the end of the day, I hope Wagler can avoid being drafted by Memphis. This is a nowhere franchise right now, and I don’t want that to be the start of his NBA career.
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