u/uunkwnnn

drafting Acuff really comes down to one thing; star creation upside.

Wagler is probably the cleaner fit right now. bigger frame, better shooter off-ball, easier to plug in next to established players. but Acuff gives the Clippers something we’re gonna need badly once the Kawhi era is over; a primary offensive engine. thats the biggest difference between them.

legit shot creators are probably the hardest thing to acquire in the league. you can find shooters and role players every offseason. it’s harder to find guards who can consistently create and facilitate offenses by themselves. i think Wagler will project more as a high-end complementary player. i see Acuff becoming the guy defenses gameplan for every night. his shot creation, pull-up game, rim pressure, pick n roll ability are harder skills to find in the nba than shooting specialists or wings.

the defensive concerns with Acuff are real, but i think the Clips should gamble on elite upside over a safer role-player type projection over time. especially with our perceived limited flexibility in the future. we really need to hit. Acuff’s combine measurements helped more than people expected. he’s not a tiny guard physically, and if he becomes average defensively, his offensive ceiling could be extremely valuable. we can always surround him with defensive talent aswell.

with Wagler i think there’s legit concern about how much separation he’ll create on the pro level. his shooting is elite, but if he can’t consistently get downhill or create advantages off the dribble, then we’re probably looking at a really good #2 or 3 option rather than a franchise altering type player. quick first step bursts make a huge difference in the nba.

i say all that to say, draft Wagler if we want safer fit, spacing, and lower variance. draft Acuff if willing to live with defensive risk for a player who could become a top player in the league. i think swinging for Acuff makes more sense.