Pelicans Would Be Making a Mistake if They Trade Up for This Prospect
Pelicans Would Be Making a Mistake if They Trade Up for This Prospect
While Nate Ament has plenty of upside, the Pelicans would be unwise to move up and draft him.Terry Kimble|
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New Orleans PelicansWith the NBA Draft less than a week away, the rumor mill surrounding the New Orleans Pelicans is getting to a fever pitch. The team currently does not have a first-round draft pick, but speculation suggests New Orleans is eager to move up to select what they deem an impact player.
NBA insider Jake Fischer recently wrote that Tennessee freshman forward Nate Ament is a player the Pelicans would target if they move up to draft. “Sources say Ament is indeed very much one of the top prospects that interest New Orleans if it could get high enough to draft him," Fischer revealed.
The 6-foot-10 forward projects as a mid-to-late first-round pick, with the Milwaukee Bucks at No. 10 posturing as a team interested in the dynamic forward. Without a pick in the first round, the Pelicans would need to give up significant assets to move up that high, which would be a mistake for them.
I might be in the minority here but I really like Nate Ament at 10 for the Bucks IF Giannis doesn’t want to stay.
— BucksShowYo🦌 (@BucksShowYo) May 10, 2026
19 years old 6’10 with Guard skills. He might be a larger project than others but if Giannis is out, this is the player to take. pic.twitter.com/ioHNGajdg0
Nate Ament Isn't What the Pelicans Should Be Looking For in the Draft
Ament finished his lone college season averaging 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. One criticism of his game is his inconsistent shooting. The Virginia-born forward shot just 40% from the field, while going 33% from beyond the arc.
If the Pelicans are going to move up and grab an impact player, it needs to be someone who can contribute immediately shooting from the outside. New Orleans was near the bottom of the league the last few seasons in three-point attempts and makes per game. Ament won’t quickly solve those woes, leaving the team unable to address such a critical need.
Pairing another non-shooter on a team with Zion Williamson and Derik Queen is a recipe for disaster. Herb Jones felt the effects of a down-shooting season, limiting his offensive effectiveness to a career-low 8.9 points per game on 30% shooting from three. With downhill post players in Queen and Williamson, New Orleans needs elite shooting around that duo.
Ament spent a large portion of his time around the perimeter, with 58% of his shots coming from outside the paint. Given that he didn’t excel away from the basket, the Tennessee standout wasn’t able to dominate opponents with sheer athleticism getting to the rim. How that translates to the NBA could be a cause for concern with drafting someone that high.
Listed at 210 pounds, the Vols forward would be a slighter frame coming into the league, with the Pelicans needing interior help in the worst way.
New Orleans swung and missed last offseason with the signing of veteran center Kevon Looney. The former 3x NBA champion appeared in just 21 games for the Pelicans, and many believe the team will decline the option to retain him, saving them approximately $8 million next season. 37-year-old center DeAndre Jordan played sparingly during the latter part of the season, but the veteran is uncertain of his future in the league.
The Pelicans were 28th in the league in defensive rebounding percentage, allowing their opponents to grab offensive rebounds nearly 29% of the time. Ament averaged over six rebounds per game, but with so many teams playing small ball in the league, teams will rely on a 6-foot-10 player to defend and rebound in the post.
It remains to be seen how he would hold up over the course of an 82-game season with his size. He will gradually get stronger with time, but it won’t happen overnight to help the Pelicans.
Ament may be a player who makes an organization look smart in the future. With Zion Williamson entering his eighth season in the league and never playing in a playoff game, time isn’t necessarily on the Pelicans' side to wait until another rookie develops. New Orleans has immediate needs to fill, and Ament isn't the player to fill them.
Published Jun 19, 2026
TERRY KIMBLETerry is a New Orleans sports lover who has covered the Saints and the Pelicans. Articles have appeared on Sports Illustrated, SB Nation, and FanSided. He is a credentialed media member for the New Orleans Pelicans and a basketball enthusiast since birth.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
