Tennessee will have three players at next week’s NBA Combine, led by Nate Ament. Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Felix Okpara will also be there. With the combine getting closer, mock drafts are starting to come out, and Ament is showing up near the top in a lot of them, proving that leaving Knoxville was the right move.
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Given this, FanSided dropped its newest NBA Mock Draft today, and Christopher Kline thinks very highly of Ament while also acknowledging some of the flaws that Ament possesses. Kline has the freshman wing going No. 9 overall to the Sacramento Kings, saying, "Nate Ament entered the season with top-five aspirations and ended it pondering a return to school. He ultimately declared for the draft and still feels lottery-bound, even if there are more than a few red flags on his profile. It's hard for NBA scouts to not roll the dice on wings with Ament's blend of size, fluidity and shooting touch. Especially since he can defend better than other "project" wings in a similar vein."
While Cline offered some criticism of Nate Ament, he also acknowledged the traits that make him such a highly regarded prospect. Ament’s top-10 draft projection is largely driven by his exceptional long-term upside. Kline said:
"He was also a knockdown free throw shooter with feathery touch and a high release on mid-range pull-ups, so teams needn't worry about his middling 3-point numbers. The Kings are the exact type of organization — often for worse, not for better — to reach on perceived upside and pedigree. And "fit.""
Nate Ament made the right move leaving Tennessee
As much as fans would love to see Nate Ament back in Knoxville, declaring for the draft is definitely the right decision. His floor seems to be somewhere in the middle of the first round, and honestly, a top-10 pick feels very realistic.
You can’t help but feel like if Ament was back for one more year, the Vols would be title favorites, but a Lottery draft spot is very hard to give away. Even Rick Barnes was saying he should go, and that's saying something, because he wants nothing more than to get Knoxville a Final Four. Ament definitely loved his time at Tennessee and loved Barnes, because it took him so long to make the decision. He was clearly torn, but ultimately going pro was the best move for him.
The bottom line is, Ament made ther right move. The Vols did a nice job replenishing talent this offseason, and Ament will be a Lottery pick in this year's draft, and he can begin his NBA journey. It was a win-win for both parties.
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