Latest NBA mock draft has Tennessee’s Nate Ament and a North Carolina standout heading to a marquee franchise
The ex-Vols star could find himself playing under one of the brighter lights in the NBA.
Former Tennessee Vols star Nate Ament is certainly a bit of a polarizing prospect. The physical tools are there. There aren’t too many 6-10 forwards who dribble like guards and can shoot from all over the floor. Those skills translate clearly to the NBA level.
But despite that versatility working in his favor, Ament hasn’t found himself projected as one of top overall picks in the draft, at least in the pundits’ mock drafts. Ament’s ceiling has mostly been the 9-10 range, with the Bucks at No. 10 being a popular landing spot.
Yahoo! Sports NBA draft pundit Kevin O’Connor sees a bit lower of a landing spot. He has Ament landing with the Chicago Bulls at No. 15 overall in his latest mock draft.
Nate Ament projected to Chicago Bulls with No. 15 pick in latest Yahoo! Sports mock draft
“The Bulls worked out Ament earlier this month, according to league sources,” O’Connor wrote. “And though Chicago already has a number of tall, skilled forwards — Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey, and Noa Essengue — there’s no harm in adding another one. Players who can handle, shoot off the dribble, and stand at 6-foot-10 don’t grow on trees. This physical foundation kept Ament in lottery consideration even after a dreadful start to his freshman season when he struggled to score efficiently and make an impact defensively.
“But over the second half of the year for Tennessee, he flipped a switch and shots began to fall. He averaged 23.8 points over a six-game stretch in January and February that reminded everyone why he was a top recruit in the country. Then he dealt with an ankle injury that ruined his momentum entering March and he severely struggled during the tournament.”
Indeed, Chicago has already taken a closer look at Ament during the pre-draft process. Ament noted recently that the Bulls, Clippers, Thunder, and Nets have all worked him out. So, it’s logical he could be firmly on the radar of the Bulls’ front office.
O’Conner also has the Bulls taking North Carolina star forward Caleb Wilson earlier in the first round with the fourth overall pick. That would be a terrific combination of athleticism and scoring versatility that the Bulls would add if they were to pull this off in the draft.
We’ll find out soon enough, with the draft set to get underway on Tuesday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.