Nate Ament’s first year in Milwaukee was already going to come with some growing pains. Peyton Watson leaving the picture changes the temperature around it.
Had the Bucks landed Watson, the path for Ament would have looked a lot simpler: learn, develop, wait his turn. Instead, Watson is now headed to Cleveland, and Milwaukee is still light at both forward spots.
That opens the door, at least a little, for Ament to push for real rotation minutes and show what he can do. Nothing is guaranteed, though.
In fact, getting there looks difficult.
The Bucks’ forward depth chart leaves plenty unresolved. Jaime Jaquez Jr. is expected to open at the three, with Ousmane Dieng likely behind him.
At power forward, Kyle Kuzma appears to have the edge for the starting job. After that, the picture gets messy fast.
Pete Nance may not last on the roster, Bogoljub Markovic is a raw rookie, and Ament is another raw rookie. That’s a lot of uncertainty for two spots.
The biggest question might be who backs up Kuzma. If Nance is out of the mix, Taylor Jenkins may have to choose between Markovic and Ament. Since both are rookies, training camp could turn into a direct battle for a chance to prove they’re ready for the moment.
If Ament wins that fight and lands the backup role, his minutes would likely be about getting his first real taste of NBA action. The misses will come.
The defense won’t be spotless. The passing won’t always be sharp.
That’s part of the deal with a player who is still very much in development.
There’s also the possibility Milwaukee takes the slower route. Ament could spend time with the Bucks while also seeing action in Oshkosh with the Wisconsin Herd, giving him game reps without forcing the issue too quickly.
Whatever path he ends up on, Jenkins matters here. The Bucks coach is known for his player development work, and the expectation is that he’ll actually be involved with Milwaukee’s rookies rather than leaving them on the margins.
For now, the most interesting part of Ament’s rookie season is simply figuring out where he fits - and whether he fits at all. That’s one of the more compelling questions hanging over Milwaukee before the season starts.
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