The Milwaukee Bucks are officially on the clock. After a decade-long absence from the NBA Draft lottery, the Bucks secured the No. 10 overall pick for the 2026 draft, setting the stage for a pivotal selection on June 23. With the team at a crossroads—facing an uncertain future surrounding superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo—the pressure is on to find a prospect who can either contribute immediately or develop into a cornerstone for the next era.

Early mock drafts are already buzzing with one name that keeps surfacing: Nate Ament. The 6-foot-10 freshman small forward from Tennessee has emerged as the consensus favorite for Milwaukee at No. 10. Here’s a closer look at what the experts are saying about this versatile swingman.

ESPN’s Spencer Woo highlights Ament’s intriguing potential despite some stock volatility. "While Ament's stock has slipped from an early top-five projection, he had productive stretches this season within a tricky team context and has room to help himself in workouts," Woo notes. "Scouts are split on whether he has star potential or projects better as a long-term supporting player, but there is still plenty of intrigue around Ament in the lottery. As a tall skill player with shotmaking upside, Ament fits a player archetype that teams often love to swing on. As Milwaukee considers a post-Antetokounmpo future, a malleable upside swing such as Ament could be a fit."

Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports echoes that sentiment, emphasizing the need for the Bucks to take a bold swing. "The Bucks should take a swing to jump-start their new era, whether or not Giannis Antetokounmpo is part of it. Players who can handle, shoot off the dribble, and stand at 6-foot-10 don’t grow on trees," O’Connor writes. He notes that Ament's physical foundation kept him in lottery consideration even after a dreadful start to his freshman season, when he struggled to score efficiently and make an impact defensively. "But over the second half of the year for Tennessee, he flipped a switch and shots began to fall. He averaged 23.8 points over a six-game stretch in January and February that reminded everyone why he was a top recruit in the country. Then he dealt with an ankle injury that ruined his momentum entering March and he severely struggled during the tournament. Bucks general manager Jon Horst has never been afraid to take risks though. If Ament pans out, it could look like a stroke of genius."

With his combination of size, skill, and shooting upside, Ament represents the kind of high-risk, high-reward prospect that could define Milwaukee’s future. Whether he becomes a star or a supporting player, the Bucks are likely to take a long, hard look at this intriguing freshman when their name is called at No. 10. Stay tuned for more draft coverage as we track the latest mock drafts and player workouts leading up to June 23.