Any possibility of Ament returning for 2nd year?

#326
#326
VolArmy74 said:
I've explained it all several times. There's no world where it wouldn't make sense for Ament to give up a year of NBA pay, NBA training, and NBA coaching to play another year of college basketball, while hoping he can improve his draft stock by 3 to 5 picks.

That one year of college subtracts a year of potentially 20 to 40 million dollars on the back end of an NBA career. It's also perilous, with a ton of ways his draft stock could plummet.
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“There are no good arguments for doing two years in college if you're a first round NBA talent. None.”

I mentioned two guys already. Ja Morant, Haliburton, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George all benefited from an extra year of college. Ament is in a unique position where he’s not really physically ready for the 82 game regular season grind but the money is too good to pass. I don’t disagree that he should go pro but your stance just lacks any nuance. The difference between pick 9 and top 3 is around $20-25 million over the rookie deal so coming back does potentially earn him more. An extra year of development can also be the difference between him becoming an NBA max level player or NBA starter. Either way the kid will be doing just fine In life
 
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#327
#327
sami said:
Apples and oranges. Nate is 6'10 with a 7' wingspan, can handle the ball like a guard, shoot 3's, and once he gets stronger will be a mismatch nightmare in the NBA. He's a unicorn, with the kind of measurements that NBA teams dream about, and with NBA training and development will reach his potential, whatever that might be.

Chandler is a slight 6' guard, who will always have a difficult time breaking into the league the way it is today. He would have stayed in school for 3-4 years probably if NIL was around at the time, but it wasn't and he was chasing the cash. Completely different ballgame today.
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You just described Zaccarie Risacher to a T, and he's barely in the Hawks' rotation right now. The theoretical is what gets players drafted. The tangible is what gets them minutes and, if things work out, paid. Right now, much of what's great about Ament is unfortunately theoretical. He was our second-best player behind someone who may not get drafted. Scouts noticed. I'm not convinced he's a lottery pick in this draft, and if he goes to a playoff team, getting early minutes will be that much more challenging.
 
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#328
#328
By the way, I want to be clear that I like Ament and want him to succeed. I just know how drafts work, and he did himself no favors down the stretch. This was Gillespie's team, and scouts know that.
 
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#329
#329
sami said:
Being a 5-star out of HS is irrelevant as far as the NBA goes. It's about his physical makeup, skillset, and the potential for growth, both physically and game-wise.
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By definition, the 5-star recruits are the premier talents in high school, the ones presumed to be one-and-done players in CBB.

The 2025 class had 15 of them. From that group, 11 are currently projected to go in the top 20, with Yessoufou at 24, and Arenas likely would have if not for the near-fatal car crash that set him back so much.

In this draft in particular, a five-star prospect needs to show that they're special. Otherwise, they run the risk of an unexpected fall. Ament has positioned himself where he must have a standout draft season and excellent combine to maintain top ten status. At this moment, I think he's more likely out than in. I noticed that USA Today had him at #13 last time, which sounds about right.
 
#330
#330
GoneViral said:
By definition, the 5-star recruits are the premier talents in high school, the ones presumed to be one-and-done players in CBB.

The 2025 class had 15 of them. From that group, 11 are currently projected to go in the top 20, with Yessoufou at 24, and Arenas likely would have if not for the near-fatal car crash that set him back so much.

In this draft in particular, a five-star prospect needs to show that they're special. Otherwise, they run the risk of an unexpected fall. Ament has positioned himself where he must have a standout draft season and excellent combine to maintain top ten status. At this moment, I think he's more likely out than in. I noticed that USA Today had him at #13 last time, which sounds about right.
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Agree that the combine and pro day will be big for Nate, and hopefully his ankle will be healed enough at that point. I still believe (until it is disproved) that his physical measurements and skillset, which are elite and show incredible room for growth, plus his mature mental makeup will get him into the 9-12 area of the lottery. We shall see.
 
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#331
#331
JMSqb11 said:
Lol..... There is no need for him to return to school in order to gain "body mass and strength".......

The NBA will do that for him.
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Yep. No way he returns especially after the injuries. Insane to risk another year in college.
 
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#332
#332
VolArmy74 said:
I've explained it all several times. There's no world where it wouldn't make sense for Ament to give up a year of NBA pay, NBA training, and NBA coaching to play another year of college basketball, while hoping he can improve his draft stock by 3 to 5 picks.

That one year of college subtracts a year of potentially 20 to 40 million dollars on the back end of an NBA career. It's also perilous, with a ton of ways his draft stock could plummet.
Click to expand...

Often overlooked as well, is that NCAA rules limit the amount of team activities / coach contact to 8 hours a week in the offseason and 20 hours a week during the season.

In the NBA it’s unlimited, and the NBA has player development coaches for individual skills, which isn’t a thing in college. For instance, God Shamgod was a player development coach for 6 years. One of the greatest ball handlers ever.
 
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#336
#336
BatteredVol44 said:
Unfortunately we just have no idea of knowing whether or not RGW is right or not
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Yeah, I don't believe that guy has any insider knowledge whatsoever.

But I'd like to think that Ament is at least toying with the idea. He has to know that he wasn't alpha enough this past season. If he came back, I feel like he could be something really special now that he understands what it takes. Those injuries may make him think he should start his NBA clock asap, though.
 
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#337
#337
BatteredVol44 said:
Unfortunately we just have no idea of knowing whether or not RGW is right or not
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For sure. He's known as a troll by a lot of posters here, but this would be something else.

From the beginning, I felt that the only thing that would make Nate return was just loving the college environment and wanting one more year of it before pro ball.

The 'business' way of looking at it is if his team has gotten some intel that he might slide in the draft. To me, if he's a lottery pick it's a no-brainer to leave, but if he slips toward the 20's, maybe another year is a better bet.
 
#339
#339
sami said:
Apples and oranges. Nate is 6'10 with a 7' wingspan, can handle the ball like a guard, shoot 3's, and once he gets stronger will be a mismatch nightmare in the NBA. He's a unicorn, with the kind of measurements that NBA teams dream about, and with NBA training and development will reach his potential, whatever that might be.

Chandler is a slight 6' guard, who will always have a difficult time breaking into the league the way it is today. He would have stayed in school for 3-4 years probably if NIL was around at the time, but it wasn't and he was chasing the cash. Completely different ballgame today.
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Nate is 6'10" but too frail to stand up to the pounding he will take in the NBA. He does not handle the ball like a guard and was not quick enough to beat many people off the dribble in SEC play. His best moves were to catch the ball in close and try to back his man down and get close enough to hit a fallaway jumper. Moves better without the ball and could get to good spots to get off a short jumper off a pass. Not a +defender or rebounder in the SEC. Michigan bullied him pretty easily and while he was hampered somewhat by the ankle, other teams did that to a lesser degree during the year.

He is still slated to be a midround 1st round draft pick so he will take the money but his minutes in NBA play will be limited by his physical liabilities next year. May even spend time in the G-League. A good strength program and better nutrition will get him to where he needs to be. Should grow into being an NBA starter over the next 2-3 years.
 
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#340
#340
Backwards K said:
Nate is 6'10" but too frail to stand up to the pounding he will take in the NBA. He does not handle the ball like a guard and was not quick enough to beat many people off the dribble in SEC play. His best moves were to catch the ball in close and try to back his man down and get close enough to hit a fallaway jumper. Moves better without the ball and could get to good spots to get off a short jumper off a pass. Not a +defender or rebounder in the SEC. Michigan bullied him pretty easily and while he was hampered somewhat by the ankle, other teams did that to a lesser degree during the year.

He is still slated to be a midround 1st round draft pick so he will take the money but his minutes in NBA play will be limited by his physical liabilities next year. May even spend time in the G-League. A good strength program and better nutrition will get him to where he needs to be. Should grow into being an NBA starter over the next 2-3 years.
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Falling to the middle of the 1st round might be the incentive to return for another season here and boost his stock to the lottery. If he gets intel that he's anywhere in the top 13 this year, he's likely gone.
 
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#342
#342
Let the nba throw a wad of cash at him, he will be a bust and will get destroyed in the league.
 
#343
#343
If he does return, it would be HIS team. I actually would be great with that. Seems like a great kid and mature beyond his years. Seemed to have a great attitude and demeanor all year, even when things weren't going great for him at the time. Kid will succeed in life regardless, I'm certain.
 
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#349
#349
Backwards K said:
Nate is 6'10" but too frail to stand up to the pounding he will take in the NBA. He does not handle the ball like a guard and was not quick enough to beat many people off the dribble in SEC play. His best moves were to catch the ball in close and try to back his man down and get close enough to hit a fallaway jumper. Moves better without the ball and could get to good spots to get off a short jumper off a pass. Not a +defender or rebounder in the SEC. Michigan bullied him pretty easily and while he was hampered somewhat by the ankle, other teams did that to a lesser degree during the year.

He is still slated to be a midround 1st round draft pick so he will take the money but his minutes in NBA play will be limited by his physical liabilities next year. May even spend time in the G-League. A good strength program and better nutrition will get him to where he needs to be. Should grow into being an NBA starter over the next 2-3 years.
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I agree with most of what you said.
 
#350
#350
I believe this . It’s obvious it’s not a slam dunk decision to go on to the nba , because he would done announced that
 
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