The deadline for college basketball players to declare for the NBA Draft is this Friday, April 24 at 11:59 p.m. and Tennessee star freshman Nate Ament has yet to announce his intentions. Ament does not have to make a final decision this week. He could declare for the draft and then would have until May 27 to remove his name and return to Tennessee for another season.
As we’ve gotten closer to the draft deadline without Ament announcing a decision, speculation has grown that Ament could return for another season. Contributing factors include UConn guard Braylon Mullins and Florida wing Thomas Haugh, who each projected as first round picks, announcing intentions to return to college for another season.
Then Wednesday, Yahoo! NBA Draft expert Kevin O’Connor reported that Ament’s agency is split on rather he should declare for the draft or return to college for one more year. Ament has always been open to a return but more people around him believing that could be the best path for him makes a return more plausible.
Another important factor is the strength of the 2026 NBA Draft. If Ament returns to school and improves, the 6-foot-10 wing could radically improve his stock ahead of the 2027 draft.
Let’s take a look at where Ament projects in latest mock drafts and other financial factors around his draft decision.
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Where Ament Is Projected To Land In Mock Drafts and What The Slot Value Is
First, some housekeeping notes. All slot values references come from the 2025-26 rookie pay scale. I have been unable to find an updated one for 2026-27.
Each slot value is not the definitive salary for that pick. But contracts have to be in a scale 20% either below or above that mark. Those numbers are referenced under each mock draft.
NBA rookie contracts have only two-year guarantees. There are third and fourth year options that teams can pick up.
ESPN Big Board
- Projected pick: No. 8
- Year one projected salary: $5,741,000
- Year one salary range: $4,592,800 – $6,889,200
- Projected guaranteed money: $11,769,100
The Athletic
- Projected pick: No. 9
- Year one projected salary: $5,277,100
- Year one salary range: $4,221,680 – $6,332,520
- Projected guaranteed money: $10,818,400
The Ringer
- Projected pick: No. 9
- Year one projected salary: $5,277,100
- Year one salary range: $4,221,680 – $6,332,520
- Projected guaranteed money: $10,818,400
CBS Sports
- Projected pick: No. 12
- Year one projected salary: $4,524,600
- Year one salary range: $3,619,680 – $5,429,520
- Projected guaranteed money: $9,275,600
Yahoo!
- Projected pick: No. 18
- Year one projected salary: $3,326,100
- Year one salary range: $2,658,480 – $3,991,320
- Projected guaranteed money: $6,818,200
How Much Money Would Nate Ament Make In The NBA Next Season
Late Top 10 (8-10)
- Projected salary range: $5,741,000 – $5,013,400
- Complete range: $4,592,800 – $6,016,080
Late Lottery (11-14)
- Projected salary range: $4,762,600 – $4,083,600
- Complete range: $3,810,080 – $4,900,320
Outside The Lottery (15-18)
- Projected salary range: $3,326,100 – $3,879,200
- Complete range: $2,658,480 – $4,655,040
How Much Money Could Tennessee Pay Ament Next Season?
Here’s what The Athletic’s C.J. Moore said about the cost of top end players in his piece on the transfer portal and the cost of building a championship level roster.
“A player projected to be an NBA Draft pick? ‘$3 million floor. Basically, it’s 30 percent of your budget. So if you’ve got $12 million, that guy is likely up to $4 million.'”
Ament projects as a NBA Draft pick and I feel confident saying Tennessee’s budget is north of $12 million for next season.
So the market value projects that Ament could make $4 million at Tennessee next season. That would make it comparable to what the very end of the lottery could offer. But I believe that is a conservative estimate for what Tennessee is willing to pay Ament for him to return for his sophomore season.
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What Could Ament Make In The 2027 NBA Draft?
O’Connor’s report noted that Ament’s agency believes he could be the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft. How much money would Ament make then based in the previously used 2025-26 rookie pay scale?
No. 1 overall pick
- Year one projected salary: $11,521,600
- Year one salary range: $9,217280 – $13,825,920
- Projected guaranteed money: $23,619,500
That is double the projected guaranteed money in even the most positive NBA mock draft outlooks for Ament this year. The gap in what Ament would make as the No. 1 overall pick compared to the No. 8 overall pick continues to climb if a team picks up his third and fourth-year options.
Let’s say that the No. 1 overall pick is a lofty goal for Ament. What would the numbers look like if he was selected with the No. 5 overall pick?
No. 5 overall pick
- Year one projected salary: $7,558,200
- Year one salary range: $6,046,560 – $9,069,840
- Projected guaranteed money: $15,494,100
The numbers are not nearly as dramatic here but still approximately $4 million more guaranteed money over the first two years of Ament’s NBA contract.
