If the Milwaukee Bucks acquired Peyton Watson, it would've made it clear that Nate Ament's rookie year would be all about development. Yet, with Watson now heading to Cleveland and the Bucks still thin at both forward spots, there is suddenly a window of opportunity for Ament to work his way into the rotation and showcase his talent. Potentially. It's far easier said than done.
Bucks' forward positions are biggest roster question mark
Let's look at the depth chart at the forward spots. Jaime Jaquez Jr. will likely start at the three spot. Ousmane Dieng may be his backup. Kyle Kuzma seems to be in the driver's seat for the starting nod at power forward. Pete Nance might not be on the roster for long. Bogoljub Markovic is a rookie who is incredibly raw. Then there's Ament, another raw rookie. With that rotation, things are wide open.
Particularly, who will be Kuzma's backup is up in the air. If Nance doesn't make the cut, Taylor Jenkins could very well be forced to turn to Markovic or Ament. Given that both are rookies, their opportunity to showcase that they are ready for the bright lights could lead to a thrilling training camp clash where the two go head-to-head.
What could rookie Nate Ament look like in year one?
If Ament beats out Markovic in this hypothetical competition and is the backup, the forward's minutes will be all about simply getting his feet wet. He'll miss shots. His defense won't be perfect. He may not make the right pass every time. That's all fine. He's a raw rookie looking to develop, and the best way to do it sometimes is by holding his feet to the fire.
There is also a world where the Milwaukee Bucks want to be patient and use Ament's rookie year as a time to develop him slowly. While he will spend time in Milwaukee, it wouldn't be surprising if he also spent time in Oshkosh with the Wisconsin Herd. That could be a way to get him game reps without rushing his development too quickly.
No matter what role he plays, it will help that Ament has Taylor Jenkins coaching him. Known for his excellent player development skills, Jenkins is poised to actually work with Milwaukee's rookies and fuel their development instead of setting them aside and never working them into the team's plans, like some Milwaukee Bucks coaches of the past.
Seeing if and where Ament fits into Milwaukee's rotation will be one of the most fascinating stories leading up to the NBA season.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
Add us as a preferred source on Google