A Bucks contingent that included general manager Jon Horst and new head coach Taylor Jenkins recently traveled to New York to meet with Tennessee forward Nate Ament, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link), who says some rival teams view Milwaukee at No. 10 as Ament’s floor in next Tuesday’s draft. Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam, a Tennessee alum, is one of the school’s biggest donors, notes Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, which is one more reason why Ament has been frequently linked to Milwaukee.
The Clippers (No. 5), Nets (No. 6), and Mavericks (No. 9) are among the other teams that have shown interest in Ament, Fischer reports, citing league sources who say the the 19-year-old opted against working out for the Warriors at No. 11.
Interestingly, Fischer hears from sources that Ament is one of the players the Pelicans would have interest in if they could trade into the top 14. While it’s unclear whether the former Volunteer is the specific prospect that New Orleans is eyeing in the lottery, it’s notable that it might take a top-10 pick to land him, given that Golden State at No. 11 has long coveted Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III. New Orleans has been willing to listen to inquiries on Murphy but is known to want “a lot” for him, as a source from one potential suitor tells Fischer.
Here are a few more draft-related rumors, with the first round just five days away:
- Alabama guard Labaron Philon has been “increasingly linked” to the Bucks and is considered a player the Heat are high on as well, Fischer writes. In other words, Philon could be a strong candidate for the 13th overall pick whether Miami keeps that selection or sends it to Milwaukee as part of a Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster.
- Arizona guard Brayden Burries impressed the Clippers and head coach Tyronn Lue in a pre-draft visit to the team on Tuesday and should be added to the list of prospects under consideration at No. 5, according to Fischer. Most mock drafts don’t have Burries coming off the board until at least the No. 9 pick.
- Teams picking in the late teens and 20s don’t believe that Michigan’s Morez Johnson will make it past the Bulls at No. 15, if he even makes it that far, Fischer says, adding that the Thunder (No. 12) are in play for Johnson and some rivals view the Hornets at No. 14 as his floor. Vecenie shares similar reporting on Johnson, suggesting he could go as high as No. 8 to the Hawks and that he isn’t considered likely to be on the board past the 15th pick.
- The Suns, who currently only control the 47th pick in this year’s draft, have had discussions about the possibility of acquiring a first-rounder, sources tell Fischer. The Mavericks are also looking into what it would take to move up from No. 30, Fischer adds.
