Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Apr 5, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; LA Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center.
After a disappointing 2025-26 season, the Los Angeles Clippers got a bit of luck when the Indiana Pacers dropped from second to fifth in the NBA Draft Lottery, meaning the pick will convey to LA rather than stay in Indy.
That was huge news for a Clippers franchise that remains in “win-now” mode as it tries to squeeze the absolute max out of Kawhi Leonard before he passes his prime.
But who Los Angeles selects, or if the Clippers even use the pick, rather than trading back, remains a mystery.
The top four prospects in the class: AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wiloson, are all expected to be off the board.
That likely leaves the Clippers to select from the next tier of prospects, which is wide-ranging and far from a sure thing. Will they go with a guard to complement Leonard? That could be a problem next to 6-foot-1 point guard Darius Garland, who was acquired in the trade that sent James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Garland has two years and nearly $80 million remaining on his contract.
Perhaps Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. and his 6-foot-7.5 wingspan could fix that problem. But Brown struggled with efficiency as a freshman. That could scare LA off.
Then there’s Illinois’ Keaton Wagler, who is 6-5 with a 6-6.25 wingspan. Wagler was extremely efficient in college, but lacks the elite athleticism you’d ideally want at a pick that high.
As it turns out, the Clippers could be focusing on a third option.
Darius Acuff Jr. Is LA Clippers Preferred Draft Target According To Leak
If Los Angeles was planning to keep its intentions under wraps, that plan may well have come apart thanks to the son of player development coach Cookie Belcher.
Belcher is a second cousin of Clippers coach Tyronn Lue and has worked with the team since 2021. However, his son Kai may have just put him in a weird position.
Rumor: Kai Belcher, son of the LA Clippers’ player development coach Segado ‘Cookie’ Belcher, was told “the other day” that the LA Clippers currently favor Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 5 pick. pic.twitter.com/qpTxoAeHUt
— APHoops (@APH00PS) June 18, 2026
Kai Belcher recently took to social media and shared that his father believes that the Clippers will target Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. with the fifth pick.
Acuff, who stands at 6-foot-3, was one of the best scorers in the country last season, averaging 23.5 points per game over the course of the season and 29.3 points per game in three NCAA Tournament games.
Given coach John Calipari’s history with producing superstar NBA guards such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Maxey, Derrik Rose, and many more, it’s easy to see why LA would covet Acuff.
Although his fit next to Garland may mean that the latter of the two could be on the move in the near future.
Ultimately, the Clippers likely have full control of what they do at No. 5, given the first four picks feel locked in. But if Acuff is truly their target, it’s hard to imagine they’ll be too happy about that fact leaking to the rest of the league, especially if a potential trade down was available.