Standing 6-foot-10 with guard-like handles and elite shooting, this versatile Tennessee wing offers high-upside potential for a Brooklyn team seeking a dynamic, long-term cornerstone at pick six.
The Brooklyn Nets falling to the sixth pick has expanded their draft bubble to include multiple prospects, and Tennessee forward Nate Ament is gaining steam as a top-10 pick.
Ament is brimming with perceived high upside because of his size. He is 6-foot-10 with a 6-foot-11.5 wingspan, measurables eerily similar to Michael Porter Jr., and possesses guard-like traits.
His blend of size and on-ball skill is a rarity, although it has become a bit more normal in recent years. Ament is a fluid athlete with a smooth handle, making him a difficult player to defend.
He said he's trying to emulate NBA superstars like Kevin Durant and Cade Cunningham; the 6-foot-10 forward even mentioned emulating Tim Duncan, a 15-time All-Star and five-time champion.
"Take how they approach the game," Ament said. "The ways they score, the ways they get to their spots, how efficient they are, some of the moves they use and try to take that from."
Ament averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists at Tennessee. He had an explosive six-game stretch, averaging 23.8 points, as his jumper started falling.
Ament shot over 50% from the field and 40% from three in those matchups. His scoring versatility makes efficient, high-scoring games a reality, especially when most defenders don't have the height to pester him.
He's also a versatile defender who can switch out to the perimeter. Ament's length makes him a solid help-side shot blocker when opposing ball-handers are driving to the rim.
Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor mocked the Milwaukee Bucks to select him with the 10th overall pick. He highlighted that general manager Jon Horst is a risk-taker -- and despite Ament dealing with an ankle injury that halted his mid-season momentum, he could draft the Tennessee forward.
While he's projected four picks ahead of the Nets, his potential could be a reason he goes earlier. A 6-foot-10 wing who can shoot, dribble and pass, as a fluid athlete, is a rare archetype.
Porter Jr. has garnered interest from many teams during February's trade deadline, but Brooklyn decided to keep him. The former Denver Nugget had a career year with the Nets, averaging 24.2 points.
However, trading or extending him is one question Brooklyn must answer before or during free agency. Ament could be a risk with the sixth pick, but his size and potential have skyrocketed his draft stock throughout the draft process.
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