Former Tennessee Vol Nate Ament is easily one of the highest-upside prospects in the loaded 2026 NBA Draft class. At just 19 years old, the 6-foot-10 forward is still barely scratching the surface of what he can become, and you could see steady improvement throughout his time at Tennessee.
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He probably won’t walk into the NBA as an instant superstar, but the long-term upside is obvious. Ament has a really complete offensive game with very few glaring weaknesses. His jump shot still needs some polishing, but he can already score at all three levels. He’s also more athletic than people give him credit for, with enough explosiveness off the dribble to get to the rim or create his own shot.
Let's take a look at the three best landing spots for Ament ahead of the NBA Draft.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Honestly, this feels like the best-case landing spot for Nate Ament. The Oklahoma City Thunder are in a position where they can be patient with a young player and let him grow naturally. They also have a real long-term need on the wing. Outside of Lou Dort and Jalen Williams, the depth there isn’t amazing. Plus, with guys like Cason Wallace already handling defensive duties, Ament wouldn’t have to come in and carry a huge load immediately. He could just focus on being an offensive spark off the bench while developing at his own pace.
The Thunder obviously aren't in a spot where they need Ament to produce right away, and this will give Ament time to grow while also learning championship culture. The Thunder have the No. 12 overall pick, so they are right in the range to grab Ament as well.
2. Sacramento Kings
Outside of Domantas Sabonis, the Sacramento Kings are built around veterans who just aren’t the same players they used to be. Zach LaVine has a $49 million player option, and coming off his lowest scoring season since 2017, DeMar DeRozan isn’t quite the all-around force he was in Toronto, and Russell Westbrook is far removed from his MVP-level OKC days. Since Sacramento usually doesn’t attract major free agents, taking a swing on a high-upside player like Nate Ament would make a lot of sense. With an aging roster, they need to think long-term with their No. 7 overall pick, a range where Ament is expected to be available.
First off, Ament would fit nicely alongside the Kings' core in Sabonis and Keegan Murray. Sacramento desperately needs more perimeter scoring, and Ament could help provide that while also giving them a high-upside defender. The nice part is Sacramento wouldn’t have to rush him either, as they aren't going to be competing for a playoff spot in a loaded Western Conference. They can let him develop naturally and hope he eventually turns into a star.
3. Chicago Bulls
After finishing as one of the league’s worst teams last season, the Chicago Bulls now own the No. 4 overall pick and the No. 15 pick from Portland. Since Nate Ament is probably projected somewhere in between those spots, Chicago would likely have to make a trade to land him. Still, he feels like exactly the kind of player this team needs: a high-upside scorer with star potential.
It’s worth pointing out that the Chicago Bulls do have some intriguing young players in Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis, but they still don’t really have a true core yet. They picked up Anfernee Simons in the Portland trade, but nobody really knows if he’s part of the long-term future. For a franchise trying to rebuild its identity, taking a swing on someone with star potential like Nate Ament could end up paying off big time.
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