Ament needs at least another year

#26
#26
Here are my Nate Ament observations.....

1. Don't EVER compare this kid to KD again. They are NOT the same....not even close.

2. He is going pro......but he isn't ready.

3. Remember the great PG that left after his freshman season at UT a few years ago? Yeah....me neither. This is a duplicate of that situation.

4. Kids want to rush their futures. Another year or 2 in college would let this kid grow up physically AND mentally and he'd be so much better prepared....ask Tim Duncan.

5. If he doesn't show up in SOME capacity on Sunday....could be a long game.

You're right about everything, but he will take the money because some NBA GM is willing to risk it.
 
#30
#30
No, he's not😂 The comparison to Kennedy Chandler is laughable. Its like of other takes here. Reactionary and uninformed
I coached basketball for 14 years. I played both in HS and college. I watch a lot of it. His body is NOT ready for the NBA. His mentality is NOT ready for the NBA. He is very talented, but he is nowhere near NBA ready. I see top 5 picks every year that are very similar to him....and they are often forgotten very quickly. Just 2 years ago, the Hawks drafted Risacher with the #1 pick overall.....and he's on the way out. And he is was lauded as a very similar player as Nate. You can disagree with my takes, but to call it reactionary is foolish and uneducated. I've watched every game and in the biggest moments Nate often disappears. He looked like a deer in headlights yesterday against MIAMI OF OHIO!!!! And also, don't call me uninformed. I feel like I have a pretty good take on college basketball.
 
#31
#31
Maybe he will stay. He loves the college life at UT. That being said, his skills and size will increase faster next year with their developmental programs that are a full day vs.part time in college. Not starting and/or getting PT aren't a given and it doesn't matter. Hell, I selfishly hope he stays for another year
Exactly. He got what he needed from Barnes. They will give him what he needs at the next level. If he is as good a person as Barnes says he is, he will excel at the next level with the right development. Also, we can’t touch that money.
 
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#32
#32
Here are my Nate Ament observations.....

1. Don't EVER compare this kid to KD again. They are NOT the same....not even close.

2. He is going pro......but he isn't ready.

3. Remember the great PG that left after his freshman season at UT a few years ago? Yeah....me neither. This is a duplicate of that situation.


4. Kids want to rush their futures. Another year or 2 in college would let this kid grow up physically AND mentally and he'd be so much better prepared....ask Tim Duncan.

5. If he doesn't show up in SOME capacity on Sunday....could be a long game.

Not even close to the same situation….

Chandler had a great skill set. Only reason why he never got a shot at an NBA career was because of his height.

Coming back for another year was not going to change that.

Ament has a good skill set and can get the proper training in the NBA without coming back to college.

He would be foolish to come back and risk an injury, losing out on millions of dollars.
 
#33
#33
I don't know anything about NBA potential or how much a team is willing to risk on a potential player. I do know this, if you can't score 1 point against basically a championship level high school team with both ankles injured you are not getting a huge offer from me. If he goes to the league he better get big money because his frame is far from NBA ready.
 
#34
#34
I coached basketball for 14 years. I played both in HS and college. I watch a lot of it. His body is NOT ready for the NBA. His mentality is NOT ready for the NBA. He is very talented, but he is nowhere near NBA ready. I see top 5 picks every year that are very similar to him....and they are often forgotten very quickly. Just 2 years ago, the Hawks drafted Risacher with the #1 pick overall.....and he's on the way out. And he is was lauded as a very similar player as Nate. You can disagree with my takes, but to call it reactionary is foolish and uneducated. I've watched every game and in the biggest moments Nate often disappears. He looked like a deer in headlights yesterday against MIAMI OF OHIO!!!! And also, don't call me uninformed. I feel like I have a pretty good take on college basketball.
I understand what you’re saying. However, I really don’t see another year changing that. He will either develop or he won’t. Another year did not help JJJ. He wasn’t ready and he was never going to be ready.
 
#35
#35
I understand rationale for NBA to take players and throw them in G'league to develop into talent for trades or keep, but in this day and age, where NIL is so significant, the benefits of going pro are less. I mean, it's not like any of our "one and done's" are killing it in NBA... think there's a good chance he'd be a lottery pick if he stays another year for a more significant contract...but that's just wishful thinking, more than likely. I'd really like to see a 2 year rule, but that's not going to happen either.
 
#36
#36
NBA plays the numbers game. Sign every top young prospect, if 1/3 make it, That’s fine. If not, in their world, they didn’t waste alot of money on them. The key is to find players worthy of a 2nd contract as soon as possible. And players want to get to that 2nd contract as soon as possible.

In the ideal world Ament stays another year but we know that’s not gonna happen.
 
#37
#37
I coached basketball for 14 years. I played both in HS and college. I watch a lot of it. His body is NOT ready for the NBA. His mentality is NOT ready for the NBA. He is very talented, but he is nowhere near NBA ready. I see top 5 picks every year that are very similar to him....and they are often forgotten very quickly. Just 2 years ago, the Hawks drafted Risacher with the #1 pick overall.....and he's on the way out. And he is was lauded as a very similar player as Nate. You can disagree with my takes, but to call it reactionary is foolish and uneducated. I've watched every game and in the biggest moments Nate often disappears. He looked like a deer in headlights yesterday against MIAMI OF OHIO!!!! And also, don't call me uninformed. I feel like I have a pretty good take on college basketball.
Agree...I guess it's just the players "take" on what they want their careers to look like. Barnes has a history of developing players over 3-4 years. Another year or two would round out his defensive skills and allow him to bulk up and mature. I'd argue HOF Barnes can develop players better than G League coaches. Look at Zuby from UConn. 4 year player that dominates every part of the game is an immediate "day 1" NBA player IMO. Though different type of player, Ament could do the same if he stayed another 2 years.
 
#40
#40
I see no mention of Ament possibly hitting the portal for another year. Does he have a multi-year NIL deal keeping him at UT?

Google shows me he has a big Reebok deal which isn't a UT based deal, so is there something holding him to staying?
 
#41
#41
Nate Ament is just not up to par on several aspects of his game. I have been saying this since December, but this last performance proves it. Love his style and ability to take over a game. But his mental errors, especially in his passing game are just not forgivable. His ability to recognize an open man has really suffered in the last few games. Tonight he forgot or someone didnt inform him of shot clock and passing to a covered player on an in=bounds possession, his throw made it difficult for Gillespie to get the ball, and turnover was made. Finally Barnes realized he was going no where with Ament and took him out several minutes. His shooting skill is awesome at times, but more than fewer, he takes a bad shot from 20 ft plus. Know he has been injured, but his game decision making has suffered as well. Nate would definitely do himself a favor by taking another year under Barnes. I don't think he will be playing in the NBA nest year, even if drafted high. Probably end up in the G league.
He would benefit from another year of S&C to better prepare him for his basketball future.
 
#42
#42
I understand what you’re saying. However, I really don’t see another year changing that. He will either develop or he won’t. Another year did not help JJJ. He wasn’t ready and he was never going to be ready.
Two different players. JJJ’s body wasn’t the problem. Adding weight wouldn’t have benefitted JJJ at all. Can you say the same for Ament? JJJ was already close to his ceiling when he arrived. Anyone who knows bball, knows Ament has a much higher ceiling. You can’t coach being 6’10” with ball skills. Barnes has continued to use him as a wing player, and another year would absolutely help him.
 
#44
#44
All of the one and done we've had have turned out to be one contract guys who ended up in the G League. I think Nate could be the same. Nothing about him is NBA ready...his body, his game, his mentality. He's passive until the end of games, not a good 3 pt shooter, not good at the rim, and obviously very skinny. Drawing fouls on short midrange pull ups to score points is not going to translate - he's going to have to get way more explosive or become a much better shooter. He's years away from being able to contribute meaningfully in the NBA, so he's a project pick right now. Making another 4 million before going to the league next year would be a pretty good deal for him. That's 8 million dollars just playing college basketball, which is more than he'd make in the NBA if he ends up being a one contract player like the rest of our one and dones.
 
#45
#45
Here are my Nate Ament observations.....

1. Don't EVER compare this kid to KD again. They are NOT the same....not even close.

2. He is going pro......but he isn't ready.

3. Remember the great PG that left after his freshman season at UT a few years ago? Yeah....me neither. This is a duplicate of that situation.

4. Kids want to rush their futures. Another year or 2 in college would let this kid grow up physically AND mentally and he'd be so much better prepared....ask Tim Duncan.

5. If he doesn't show up in SOME capacity on Sunday....could be a long game.
He isn’t comparable to Kennedy Chandler. Not even close. Lost all credibility with your argument with that comparison.
 
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#46
#46
I still don't know what I'm talking about here, but I think he could have a year like Dalton Knecht's last year if he comes back as a sophomore.

I'm guessing that would change his NBA stock.
 
#47
#47
All of the one and done we've had have turned out to be one contract guys who ended up in the G League. I think Nate could be the same. Nothing about him is NBA ready...his body, his game, his mentality. He's passive until the end of games, not a good 3 pt shooter, not good at the rim, and obviously very skinny. Drawing fouls on short midrange pull ups to score points is not going to translate - he's going to have to get way more explosive or become a much better shooter. He's years away from being able to contribute meaningfully in the NBA, so he's a project pick right now. Making another 4 million before going to the league next year would be a pretty good deal for him. That's 8 million dollars just playing college basketball, which is more than he'd make in the NBA if he ends up being a one contract player like the rest of our one and dones.
Some of you just make stuff up. If he gets picked 10th, he makes a guaranteed $12 million the next two years with 2 year options after that, which are almost always picked up because of the low salary number. So, if he’s just a one contract player, he does indeed make more. You guys trying to justify this are just silly. Can’t wait to see him making $15 million in several years.
 
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#48
#48
Hence #2. I just hope the Hawks don't draft him. We've wasted enough decent picks over the years.
Perfect example is Jalen Johnson. He “wasn’t ready” after 13 games at Duke. He did almost nothing his first 2 years in the NBA. Now, he’s an All-Star. A great example for Ament and similar size.
 

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