Tennessee's Nate Ament projected to land with a recent NBA champion led by 2-time MVP

The Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball had another season end one game short of reaching the Final Four. That has been a recurring frustration for head coach Rick Barnes and the program as a whole.

After the season concluded, the expectation was that Nate Ament would declare for the NBA Draft. However, there was reportedly a genuine split decision within his agency about whether that was the best move.

“League front office executives tell me that his agency, LIFT Sports Management, is split on the decision because they believe that Ament could be the No. 1 pick in 2027,” Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports wrote.

Ament ultimately declared for the draft on the final day players were allowed to enter. The freshman forward made it clear that Knoxville will always hold a special place in his heart.

“I promise to always represent the Vols with the upmost pride," Ament wrote. "This University means more to me than just basketball -- to me it's a place I call home. I might've only been here a year but I'll remember this year for the rest of my life."

For Ament, the focus now shifts to where he could end up at the next level. There is growing belief that he could land with the Milwaukee Bucks and potentially play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“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,” O’Connor wrote.

Ament could be a strong fit in Milwaukee, especially because he would give the Bucks even more length alongside Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner. He is also a capable ball-handler who has improved at creating space and getting to his spots offensively.

A lineup featuring Ament at the three could be a major boost for Milwaukee. However, if Antetokounmpo were to request a trade, Ament could quickly transition into becoming the team’s primary power forward moving forward.