2026 NBA Draft Preview

The 2026 NBA Draft is nearly upon us, and the reality that Illinois is starting to send prospects every year is finally setting in. Since Meyers Leonard was selected in 2012 by the Portland Trailblazers, the NBA waited 9 extensive years to come knocking back on our doors. Ayo Dosunmu broke this drought when his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, selected him with the 38th pick in the 2021 draft. However, it wasn't entirely a fairytale evening, as Ayo deserved to be picked in the first round. His much-anticipated moment was long winded. Nevertheless, Ayo helped open the gate for future Illini to make a seamless transition to the league.

Since Dosunmu was selected in 2021, Illinois has also sent Terrence Shannon Jr, Kasparas Jakucionis, and Will Riley to the league and as first round picks. In 2026, at least one Illini will join those who used to don the orange and blue. Keaton Wagler's historic freshman season has turned a scrawny freshman believing he might redshirt or be stuck to the end of the bench into one of the most beloved Illini and a future top 10 pick. Kylan Boswell will also have a chance to hear his name called, albeit not on the same day. Boswell has proven that he is open to take on any role presented to him and is a great candidate for a team to take chance on in the second round. Kylan deferred his on-ball opportunities to Wagler early in the season when it was widely believed that the ball would always be in Boswell's hands. Not everyone would be willing to give up their usage in their last season of college basketball for an unheralded freshman. An NBA team should be willing to select him in the second round because of his maturity and on-ball defense. Only time will tell if he gets selected but even if he does not, I am confident that he will pick up a two-way deal after the draft.

Keaton Wagler is surefire top 10 pick, so let's breakdown his possible landing spots and which ones would be the best fit for him.

The three teams that are most likely to select Wagler are the Clippers at 5, the Hawks at 8, and the Mavs at 9. I like the fit of all these potential destinations. The Clippers are rebuilding and need a taller guard to pair with Darius Garland. The Clippers need size, shooting, and perimeter versatility. Wagler has proven that has all three, and he should only continue to get stronger. Ayo Dosunmu was also skinny when he arrived at college, but by his third season, strength was no longer a weakness. Keaton gained 20 pounds from when he arrived on campus, and that number should only rise over the next few years. The Clippers will be a place for Keaton that will allow for him to play through mistakes and learn.

The Hawks own the draft rights of the 8th pick from the Pelicans. Atlanta has a solid core built in place, and as of the time I am writing this, they were the only team that was competitive against the Knicks in the playoffs. The Hawks backcourt currently consists of Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and CJ McCollum. The backcourt is a little crowded, but McCollum is aging and does not have many years left as one of the top options for a team in the league. Wagler possesses many similar traits to McCollum. They are both shifty, crafty, and are good high-volume shooters. With the Hawks, Wagler will be put in a situation where he will be competing for a playoff team and if he pans out, he could take them to another level.

The Mavs with the 9th pick also has some solid pieces that would help Wagler transition smoothly. Cooper Flagg is already one of the NBA's biggest rising stars. Adding Wagler to the mix could create one of the best young duos the NBA has seen in quite some time. While Kyrie Irving is still in the mix, he is also aging like McCollum, and one day the keys will fully be given to Wagler to run the show. Irving is also coming off a torn ACL, and as a 34-year-old, he may not be the same player he once was. Wagler will probably be in a secondary playmaking role early in his Mavs career, but he may prove to be worthy as a primary option just like he did at Illinois.

Other potential landing spots for Wagler include, the Bulls, the Nets, and the Kings. While many Illini fans will want to see Wagler in Chicago, all three of these landing spots would be brutal for Wagler. I mean the Bulls dealt Ayo Dosunmu for nothing but second picks. They do not deserve to have another Illinois great for a long time, in my opinion. Each of these organizations are both incompetently ran and have no sign of where they want to be headed.

Overall, my favorite two landing spots for Wagler would be the Hawks or the Mavericks. Both would provide Wagler with less pressure to be great early on, and both organizations looks set to make playoff appearances. The Clippers are more of a questionable destination than Atlanta and Dallas, but LA is still much more suitable than Chicago, Brooklyn, or Sacramento.

The 2026 NBA Draft will take place on June 23rd and June 24th in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. It's nearly time to officially send off more Illini to the NBA and add on to the NBA factory that resides in Champaign these days.