Defense at the wing position has been an issue for the Milwaukee Bucks for many seasons. They have brought in a variety of players to solve the problem, but none have stuck. In ESPN's latest NBA Mock Draft, the Bucks take Nate Ament with the 10th pick, and that would certainly look to fix this glaring issue.
Ament has plenty of upside to intrigue the Bucks
The Tennessee Volunteers wing had stretches this season that showed exactly why he initially was projected to be a top-five selection. However, many are split over whether Ament has the real potential to become a star or will be just a strong role player.
This season, he averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists on shooting splits of .399/.333/.790. At 6-foot-10, his ability to score and strong ball-handling skills make him an intriguing prospect who will always have teams keeping tabs on him because of his archetype. He can get downhill at speed, which can cause defensive switches and open up opportunities for those on the perimeter.
The jump shooting is good, and he worked well as a movement shooter at Tennessee. Overall, the consistency needs work, which will come over time.
Defensively, there is real potential. His speed and jumping ability, combined with his frame, give him a good foundation to build on. This season, he has shown defensive IQ to generate deflections and steals that will continue to develop with age. Everything is there for him to stay in front of opposing wings, something the Bucks have needed in an Eastern Conference full of talented forwards.
Kyle Kuzma and Taurean Prince have been the main wings for the Bucks this season, with the latter missing the majority of the season. Kuzma will always be floating around in trade rumors due to his contract. Milwaukee has tried multiple lineups that saw them lineup smaller, and it ultimately saw them taken advantage of on the wing, something Ament can help solve.
Possible risks of Bucks drafting Ament
Consistency has been a question mark for Ament, which is expected of a 19-year-old, but if the Bucks want to take an NBA-ready prospect that can have a bigger impact in the 2026-27 season, then they may look elsewhere. Ament is a crafty finisher, but in the NBA, teams may want him to be more physical at his size when it comes to scoring in the paint, something Giannis Antetokounmpo developed over his career.
He does show comfort as a playmaker with good ball-handling skills, but averaging the same number of turnovers as assists will be a question mark teams put next to his name. His shooting is solid, not great, and his overall game is very much based on potential and hypotheticals right now, with him still young and showing flashes of that brilliance he clearly possesses.
Milwaukee has some big decisions to make with this year's draft pick, and it may ultimately come down to where they land in the draft lottery. There is the possibility that they trade the pick away to bring in a star that can accompany Giannis.
There is a lot to like regarding Ament, but the Bucks have taken a lot of swings on raw players that clearly were a few years away and ultimately wasted those picks by moving on so swiftly. This could be one of those, but Nate Ament has an extremely high ceiling; the Bucks may not value the risk.
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