Illinois Freshman Keaton Wagler Projected No. 7 Pick to Mavericks After Declaring for NBA Draft

**TL;DR:** Keaton Wagler declared for the 2026 NBA draft and is projected by USA TODAY to be selected No. 7 overall by the Dallas Mavericks.

The Dallas Mavericks own the worst offensive rating in the Western Conference. They may solve that problem with a 19-year-old guard from Illinois.

Keaton Wagler declared for the 2026 NBA draft Saturday, and USA TODAY's latest mock has him landing in Dallas at No. 7 overall. The projection fills a clear need: the Mavericks struggled to score all season, and Wagler just posted 20 points with 8 rebounds against UConn in the Final Four. He added 25 points in the Elite Eight.

The freshman averaged 17.9 points per game this season while shooting 40.2% from three-point range. He was named Big Ten Rookie of the Year. Teams also got 4.4 assists per game from the guard.

The Mavericks hold three picks in this draft: No. 6, No. 30 (via OKC), and No. 50 (via PHX). Adding Wagler would give them a floor-spacing guard who showed he can produce against elite competition in March.

The 2026 NBA draft takes place in late June. Watch for whether Wagler's projection holds as team workouts begin.