The Milwaukee Bucks have been projected to take Nate Ament in countless mock drafts, and it may not be just because of on-court reasons. Bucks part-owner Jimmy Haslam is a Tennessee alum and recently made a historic investment alongside his wife, Dee, that included $130 million going to the university. They would sure love to see a Tennessee player in Milwaukee, one would think.
Ament to Milwaukee speculation grows
The path is right there. If the Milwaukee Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, they will hit the reset button and look for their next star. Haslam would certainly love it if Ament could become the next big thing for his franchise. Not only would it be a great look for Milwaukee, but seeing that Ament came from Tennessee would also shine a positive light on the college.
One has to think the Milwaukee Bucks are thinking hard about taking him 10th overall, even beyond just the Haslam connection. Mock drafts typically haven't brought that up. Instead, they focus more on the upside Ament has and how the Bucks could afford to be more patient in a world that may not involve Giannis Antetokounmpo, giving Ament the time to sharpen his skills.
The projections make sense, especially considering the Milwaukee Bucks have never been shy about taking project players through the draft.
Ament might not fall to Bucks at 10th overall
There is a chance Ament will be long gone when it's Milwaukee's turn on draft night. Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo! Sports reported in his latest mock draft that the Brooklyn Nets are a team that has interest in Ament. Armed with the sixth pick, Brooklyn could take Ament and aim to unearth him themselves as they go through their rebuild. That would eliminate any Milwaukee possibility then and there.
If Ament goes sixth—or anywhere before 10—it opens the door to another guard being available for the Milwaukee Bucks. This class is full of them early on. A piece like Labaron Philon, Mikel Brown Jr., Brayden Burries, or Kingston Flemings would certainly be interesting for a team that could use a shot in the arm in the backcourt.
No one knows how the NBA Draft will shake out; that's part of the thrill. Storylines and connections like Haslam and Tennessee make things all the more interesting. Everyone will be keeping an eye on the situation to see if this theory holds any legitimate weight.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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