Episode
06/24/26 Hour 1: Keaton Wagler Drafted No. 5 Overall by Clippers; Cardinals Announce Major Front Office Changes
- Podcast
- The Drive on ESPN 93.5
- Published
- Jun 24, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3300
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
Illinois star Keaton Wagler officially became the second-highest NBA Draft selection in program history Tuesday night when the Los Angeles Clippers selected him with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Wagler's remarkable freshman season included consensus All-America honors, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, the Jerry West Award, and a trip to the Final Four. He now joins an organization looking to build around a talented young core and is the highest Illini draft pick since Deron Williams went No. 3 overall in 2005. We'll break down why the Clippers viewed Wagler as the perfect fit at No. 5, what his NBA role could look like immediately, and how his selection continues Illinois' recent pipeline of NBA talent. Plus, the St. Louis Cardinals announced significant organizational changes as Bill DeWitt III was promoted from President to Chief Executive Officer. Meanwhile, Anuk Karunaratne was elevated to President of Business Operations, while Bill DeWitt Jr. remains Chairman and Principal Owner. The move represents the next phase of the Cardinals' long-term succession plan and further separates baseball operations under Chaim Bloom from the club's business operations. We'll discuss why many Cardinals fans are reacting skeptically to the announcement, what it means for the future direction of the franchise, and whether this signals meaningful change or simply a reshuffling of titles.