Young talent is in no short supply tonight when the Clippers meet the Wizards. LA is led by fifth overall pick Keaton Wagler, one of the NBA’s most promising prospects. First overall pick AJ Dybantsa won’t be suiting up on Wednesday for the Wizards. Still, Washington boasts a slew of first-round talents on its Summer League roster. Which of these two clubs will emerge victorious this evening?
The Clippers enter as 1.5-point favorites with -130 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Wizards are +110 underdogs, with the game total set at 179.5 points. Let’s dive into a preview, pick and prediction for today’s matchup.
Clippers vs. Wizards preview, prediction
As previously mentioned, Wagler is the engine driving this Clippers roster. Despite lackluster efficiency (34% FG), the guard is averaging 15.3 points and 3.0 assists per game. During his most recent outing on Tuesday vs. the Lakers, the Illinois alum notched 16 points, six rebounds and four assists. At 6’6″, the playmaker also provides plenty of physicality and rebounding skills. Even if his shot isn’t falling, Wagler is sure to leave his fingerprints on this matchup. Still, as a unit, LA has lost two of its first three Summer League appearances.
If the Clippers are going to turn things around tonight, it won’t be easy on the second leg of a back-to-back. Even if Wagler is effective, they’ll need more than one player in this one. Kobe Sanders has given the team a boost, averaging 13.0 points per game during Summer League. Down low, second-round pick Baba Miller has been solid on both ends of the floor (11.0 PPG, 1.3 BLK). To boot, LA has won the turnover battle in all three of its contests so far. The biggest issue has been three-point shooting, something that could even out over time. Against the Lakers, the Clippers shot just under 24% from beyond the arc.
If Dybantsa was going to suit up, this would be a whole different ballgame. However, the highly touted prospect is being held out for the rest of the summer. Per Josh Robbins of The Athletic, former first-rounders Tre Johnson and Will Riley are also being shut down. That leaves the Wizards with significantly less firepower. Last night, it was forward Chris Livingston that took over on offense (21 points). However, there are several other players on Washington’s roster with brief NBA experience.
Among the many lesser known Wizards, Kadary Richmond provides plenty of intrigue. The former St. John’s standout isn’t the best shooter. However, he’s a physical, all-around presence; the wing delivered 11 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals last night vs. Chicago. Keep an eye on big men Felix Okpara and Julian Reese as well. Neither has put up the most impressive counting stats, but that’s primarily due to playing behind Riley. With a wide-open depth chart, the duo should surpass 20 minutes each. Washington has out-rebounded its opponents in all three contests so far.
Clippers vs. Wizards pick, best bet
There’s still plenty to like about this now-depleted Wizards roster. However, Wednesday’s matchup presents some difficulty. Wagler alone is a difficult assignment for a defensively-challenged group. Sanders, another player with NBA experience, makes this an extremely dangerous Summer League backcourt. Down low, both Okpara and Reese have yet to make an impact in Las Vegas. Keeping that in mind, the Clippers feel like more of a sure thing this evening.
