Ament declares for NBA draft

#52
#52
VolFreakJosh said:
Knecht was also 22 years old in college and a pretty much finished product.

Ament just turned 19 and has room to grow.

Not really a fair comparison.
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No two people peek at the same time. Knecht was only 6-3 his senior year of high school and finished growing in college. 19 and 22 are only 3 years difference. Definitely not a fair assessment to assume they will begin to decline at the same age either.
 
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#54
#54
I truly won’t be surprised if Ament’s career goes either way. He has skills—that if ever honed—could lead to a career with numerous All Star appearances. However, I can also see him as a benchwarmer that never blossoms and he’s a player a step or two above that of Julian Phillips.
 
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#57
#57
brockytop said:
I truly won’t be surprised if Ament’s career goes either way. He has skills—that if ever honed—could lead to a career with numerous All Star appearances. However, I can also see him as a benchwarmer that never blossoms and he’s a player a step or two above that of Julian Phillips.
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Go back a year ago when Ament committed to the Vols. He was considered a huge get, but the caveat was that he might not be physically ready to dominate like a Durant or Flagg or similar freshman phenoms. That is exactly how it played out. He was really good after a slow start then the injury occurred. He's still benefitting from the potential that he has. I don't blame him for that, but it's still very unclear if he will shine at the next level.
 
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#59
#59
Carl Pickens said:
It’s very fair. I said Ament isn’t ready and may not make any noise for several years. DK’s game at UT was much better than Ament’s and he’s not been anything special in the NBA.
I didn’t say he won’t develop, but it looks like he’s got a long way to go to me. He disappeared in numerous games last season and doesn’t have a dominant physical presence
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The AL game was the only one he played where he looked like an NBA prospect
 
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#60
#60
TheMookieMonster said:
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Best wishes young man. Thank you for your time on Rocky Top. I think he will have a great NBA career in time, but I really wanted to see what another year under Barnes would have done for this young man. He's a diamond in the rough, but would have loved to see him polished.
 
#63
#63
Still a slight possibility he may change his mind and withdraw. I believe he has until the end of May after the combine
 
#64
#64
#1HomeGrownUTVOL said:
He just hasn’t been given the chance when he is given a chance he’s lit it up. LA picked him up in the draft because they knew he was good and kept another team from picking him up. If DK was playing for another team right now, he would be playing a lot more. That’s the problem what’s getting drafted around the area he did because teams can be good and just draft for the bench.
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Not much more. He's weak defensively
 
#66
#66
Was ALWAYS the answer. Nice squad on paper to build with over the summer just the same. Still need to address finding somebody to play lock down defense on the parameter I imagine.
 
#67
#67
brockytop said:
I truly won’t be surprised if Ament’s career goes either way. He has skills—that if ever honed—could lead to a career with numerous All Star appearances. However, I can also see him as a benchwarmer that never blossoms and he’s a player a step or two above that of Julian Phillips.
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Julian Phillips?? The guy that averaged 8 here and couldn’t hit a three to save his life?? He’s step or two above that?? More like twice the player Phillips ever was here. I get y’all want Nate to stay, but he’s 6’10, with a shot, and guard handles. He's gonna be a top ten pick in one of the most hyped up draft classes of all time. Will he work out in the NBA?? I have no idea, but the NBA only cares about potential and Nate has crazy potential
 
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#69
#69
VolArmy74 said:
The NBA uses 90 percent of their picks on what they hope a guy becomes in 3+ years, not what impact they make next year. Hell, Philadelphia was perfectly content to have Embiid sit out his first year. Most teams in the lottery these days are in multi-year tanking situations to try and get 3+ lottery picks in their rotation.
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Yeah and he’ll probably bounce a couple of times as part of trades. Prob take 3 or so years but he’ll eventually be impactful
 
#70
#70
Should open up the delay in bringing in a few of our high value targets…though I’d have preferred to keep him. Can’t blame him for going pro
 
#72
#72
Unconditional Surrender said:
Meh. Making millions averaging 25 a game would be more fun. Put it this way, his 2026-2027 would have been more fun had he stayed.
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Plus draft not as stacked next year. Not throwing shade but this draft is so stacked, I could see him getting drafted much later than the lottery level he’s projected.
 
#73
#73
VolFreakJosh said:
Knecht was also 22 years old in college and a pretty much finished product.

Ament just turned 19 and has room to grow.

Not really a fair comparison.
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Agreed. Ament has more NBA potential than Knecht. DK is getting a fair shake in LA imo just can’t jump anyone on the roster.
 
#74
#74
Mullins2010 said:
Making millions riding the bench sounds fun tbh
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Unconditional Surrender said:
Meh. Making millions averaging 25 a game would be more fun. Put it this way, his 2026-2027 would have been more fun had he stayed.
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Always take the playing time. If you’re good, you’re getting payed to have fun. Otherwise you’re getting paid to be bored.

I wonder how shoe deals work for guys who generate publicity in college but are forgotten in the NBA..
 
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#75
#75
Johnnyreb#VFL said:
Agreed. Ament has more NBA potential than Knecht. DK is getting a fair shake in LA imo just can’t jump anyone on the roster.
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I mean with Reaves & Luka both out - if DK can’t get run ahead of Bronny & Nick Smith, I think his time in LA is done. He should be able to “jump” those guys
 
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