The Milwaukee Bucks have been linked to Nate Ament seemingly since mock-draft season tipped off. ESPN's Jeremy Woo and Tim Bontemps made the latest connection, naming Milwaukee as Ament's projected team in the 2026 NBA Draft. They also compared the lanky youngster's upside to that of veteran Spurs forward Harrison Barnes, only a larger version of him. Hence, a "Bigger Harrison Barnes."Â
While Ament boasts tantalizing promise, there are questions about his explosiveness and efficiency. Not every Bucks fan would be thrilled to see Milwaukee spend the 10th overall pick on Ament this June.
Ament profiles as longer, taller Barnes
Ament is polarizing precisely because there are things to like about his game. At 6-foot-10, he has the length of Kevin Durant, a solid handle for his size, and a knack for putting the ball in the bucket. There are those who rave about his NBA potential.Â
Don't forget, while the comparison might not be an exciting one, prime Barnes was a borderline All-Star, or something close to it. From 2017 through 2023, he averaged 16.7 points per game on efficient shooting splits. Later in his career, he made his living as a catch-and-shoot artist.
Some fans might not be satisfied with that type of upside. This is, after all, the highest the Bucks have picked since 2016. Using it on a prospect with bust potential and a good, not great ceiling would surely leave a vocal portion of the fanbase dismayed.
And then there is the low end of the spectrum, which Woo and Bontemps represented with one-time lottery pick Ziaire Williams. The No. 10 selection back in 2021, Williams has never averaged more than 10.2 points per game in a season. For all the hype and talent, he just hasn't panned out.Â
Drafting Ament would require overlooking numerous drawbacks
There is a real chance Ament's rawness translates to a similarly underwhelming career in the pros. That is not an outcome any Milwaukee fan wants.
It's not even clear that the Bucks should target a forward. They face more uncertainty in the backcourt, where Ryan Rollins will be by himself if Kevin Porter Jr. declines his player option.Â
The Bucks can tackle the hole at small forward this offseason by re-signing restricted free agent Ousmane Dieng, who looked like a core piece of Milwaukee's future after breaking out upon his arrival at the trade deadline.
On top of that, there is simply far more guard talent to be had in the middle of the lottery. Reaching for Ament doesn't make sense. While his potential is undeniable, burning the 10th pick on a prospect with Harrison Barnes' ceiling would at best split Bucks fans down the middle.
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