As the Sacramento Kings continue preparing for the 2026 NBA Draft, one of the biggest questions surrounding the seventh overall pick is whether Tennessee forward Nate Ament could come off the board before Sacramento is on the clock.
Will Gottlieb of CHGO joined Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys this week and discussed Ament’s rising stock, as well as how it could impact the Kings’ options.
Ament is coming off an impressive freshman season with the Volunteers. The 211-pound forward averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while earning All-SEC honors and a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team.
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While some around the league have questioned whether Brooklyn’s reported interest in Ament at No. 6 is genuine, Gottlieb believes there is at least some legitimacy to the chatter.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 27: Nate Ament #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers dribbles up the court against the Iowa State Cyclones in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 27: Nate Ament #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers dribbles up the court against the Iowa State Cyclones in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
How could the 6th & 7th picks of the NBA Draft shake out?
“It’s interesting, right? I mean, they took Egor Demin last year at eight, and that was kind of a surprise, so it wouldn’t be too wild if they did reach for someone like Ament,” Gottlieb said. “He certainly got upside, but he’s very raw.”
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Gottlieb added that draft season often brings plenty of misinformation.
“This is the time of year when teams are really starting to send some smoke signals into the Twitterverse and try to change the value of different players,” he said. “So it would surprise me if he goes six, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they have interest in him.”
If Ament does hear his name called before the Kings select, Sacramento could have several of its preferred guards still available. The Kings have been heavily linked to both Darius Acuff Jr. and Kingston Flemings in recent weeks.
Asked to rank a group of guards that included Acuff, Flemings, Mikel Brown Jr., and Keaton Wagler, Gottlieb placed Wagler first, followed by Acuff.
“I think Acuff is probably the highest ceiling in terms of what he can do offensively, but just his size and defense is going to be a little bit of a challenge,” Gottlieb said.
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PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 21: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks on against the High Point Panthers during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON – MARCH 21: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks on against the High Point Panthers during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
As for whether Acuff will still be available at seventh, Gottlieb remains uncertain.
“I’m leaning no,” he said. “I probably put it at like 55-45 that he’s not there just because he is such a high-level talent.”
That uncertainty could make Ament’s draft position one of the biggest storylines to watch on draft night.
If the talented Tennessee forward comes off the board at sixth, Sacramento may find itself with multiple intriguing backcourt options when its turn arrives in the NBA Draft.
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Listen to The Drive Guys from 2 – 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.
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What is the next Sacramento Kings Offseason Event?
The Sacramento Kings are preparing for a crucial 2026 NBA Draft, which is set to take place from Tuesday, June 23rd, through Wednesday, June 24th.
Sacramento owns the 7th pick in the Draft, giving them a chance at selecting a talented player with upside, such as Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr., Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr., Houston’s Kingston Flemings, and Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, among others.
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Be sure to stay locked into Sactown Sports for pre-draft workout news, player breakdowns, draft rumors, and MUCH more.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings & NBA Offseason Schedule
Tuesday, June 23rd – NBA Draft (Round 1)
Wednesday, June 24th – NBA Draft (Round 2)
Tuesday, June 30th – NBA Free Agency negotiation period begins (3 PM PT)
Saturday, July 4th – Monday, July 6th – California Classic at Golden 1 Center
Thursday, July 9th – NBA Las Vegas Summer League begins
Monday, July 13th – Free Agency moratorium ends / signings can become official
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