Lawrence Frank Explains LA Clippers' Keaton Wagler Pick
The Clippers got their guy at No. 5.
When the LA Clippers were listening to trade offers for Ivica Zubac, the team made it clear there was a very high price for acquiring the All-Defensive center. President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank told this to Zubac himself as rumors were starting to surface. But Frank also told him a team was getting close to meeting LA's asking price.
That team was, of course, the Indiana Pacers. The hold-up in negotiations was over pick protections. Had Indiana not loosened the protections on its 2026 first-round pick, leaving No. 5 and 6 exposed, the Clippers would not have made the deal.
Indiana gave in, the lottery broke LA's way, and now Keaton Wagler is a Clipper.
