Nate Ament projected to a team in an awkward situation in latest post-lottery NBA mock draft

The former Vol has a popular landing spot among recent expert predictions.

Craig Smith College Football & NFL Trending News Writer
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Mar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Nate Ament (10) reacts against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

The NBA Draft lottery took place on Sunday, and now we know exactly where each team will pick and each player could conceivably be selected in the 2026 NBA Draft.

The Washington Wizards won the No. 1 overall pick. However, Tennessee forward Nate Ament won’t hear his name called there. He’s likely a lottery pick and potentially a top 10 pick. In fact, No. 10 is exactly where a pair of NBA analysts have him in their latest mock drafts following the lottery on Sunday.

Nate Ament projected by multiple outlets to the Milwaukee Bucks at No. 10 overall in latest NBA mock drafts

Yahoo! Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor sees Ament as a tempting target for the Milwaukee Bucks regardless of whether superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is back next season.

“The Bucks should take a swing to jump-start their new era, whether or not Giannis Antetokounmpo is part of it,” O’Connor wrote. “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. Bucks general manager Jon Horst has never been afraid to take risks though. If Ament pans out, it could look like a stroke of genius.”

CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein also has the Bucks taking Ament with the No. 10 pick in his latest mock draft.

“Ament is a polarizing prospect with a wide range of outcomes on draft night,” Finkelstein wrote. “A late-blooming 6-foot-10 combo-forward who is fluid, has touch, and skill, he’s also inconsistent and needs to get stronger. While his freshman year was up and down, Ament’s overall arc has been linear, and there’s still glaring potential. That upside makes him a logical choice for a Milwaukee team that has a very uncertain future ahead of them.”

If Antetokounmpo is back next year for Milwaukee, then landing with the Bucks at No. 10 would be a terrific opportunity for Ament to be eased into the NBA with one of the best players in the world on the floor with him.

But if Giannis ends up dealt in the offseason, Milwaukee would certainly be in major transition mode, and that can be a tricky place for a rookie, particularly a young player like Ament.

We’ll find out where Ament’s NBA future will begin on June 23, when the first round of the NBA Draft gets underway in Brooklyn, New York.