NBA Draft analyst projects Nate Ament to fall out of lottery

TL;DR

Nate Ament's NBA Draft stock is fluctuating, with some analysts projecting him to fall outside the lottery. His decision to declare or return to Tennessee is influenced by potential future earnings and development opportunities.

Key points

Nate Ament's NBA Draft stock is fluctuating.
Some analysts project him to fall outside the lottery.
He must declare by Friday to enter the NBA Draft process.
Returning to college could benefit his development and future earnings.
His agency is divided on whether he should go pro or stay in college.

Mentioned in this story

LIFT Sports Management

Nate AmentTennessee Volunteers2026 NCAA Tournament

Mar 27, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Nate Ament (10) dribbles while defended by Iowa State Cyclones guard Nate Heise (0) in the first half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images

Nate Ament’s NBA decision is coming up, and the 6-10 wing certainly has a lot to think about in the coming weeks. Ament will have to initially declare by Friday in order to go through the process, but he can still keep the option of returning to Tennessee open. That option has been picking up steam over the last couple of weeks.

Ament’s NBA Draft stock is all over the place at the moment, with some believing he’s a top ten pick. Others, like Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor, believe Ament will go lower — perhaps outside of the lottery. O’Connor mocked Ament at No. 18 overall to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. He had some interesting insight on the situation, including some thoughts from Ament’s agency.

Tennessee fans are waiting for Ament to choose whether to return to college or head to the NBA. 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. If Ament falls outside of the lottery, he’d be playing for less money this year potentially hurting his future earnings. For financial reasons it may make sense to return, and more importantly, for his own development to get one more year to improve physically and progress his skills.

Q&A

What is Nate Ament's current NBA Draft projection?

Nate Ament is projected by some analysts to fall outside the lottery, with one mock draft placing him at No. 18 overall.

When does Nate Ament need to declare for the NBA Draft?

Nate Ament must declare by Friday to enter the NBA Draft process while keeping the option to return to Tennessee.

Why might Nate Ament choose to return to college instead of going pro?

Ament may return to college for financial reasons and to further develop his skills, as falling outside the lottery could hurt his future earnings.

What are the opinions of Ament's agency regarding his NBA decision?

Ament's agency, LIFT Sports Management, is reportedly split on the decision, with some believing he could be the No. 1 pick in 2027.