4. Indiana Pacers
Nate Ament, SF/PF, Tennessee
Freshman
2025-26 stats: 20 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists in four games
Ament has been productive against lower-level opponents to begin the season and will be under the microscope next week in Las Vegas, with all 30 NBA teams expected to send decision-makers to the prospect-laden Players Era Championship. Ament is still learning to leverage his 6-foot-10, 207-pound frame as a scorer, but it has been encouraging to see him attack downhill and draw fouls. Scouts will be eager to evaluate him against better competition, but his frame and skill set portend excellent upside as he gains experience.
The Pacers' devastating run of bad injury luck spilled into the regular season -- Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin and Aaron Nesmith have been among the notable players injured. Indiana's decision to reacquire its own 2026 first-round pick back in the spring now looks particularly shrewd, giving the franchise a security blanket and a pathway into a talented draft lottery. After a 1-13 start, it might make sense for the Pacers to lean in to the losing, with eyes on bouncing back next season with a healthy Tyrese Haliburton.