The Philadelphia 76ers needed Jonah Bolden to play a lot last year, but now that they don’t him to this season, so what’s his ceiling for this year?
Out of all the players who’s ceilings for this upcoming season have been evaluated, Jonah Bolden‘s is the lowest. The second year big man of the Philadelphia 76ers is expected to undergo a role change this season and not in a positive way.
During Bolden’s rookie season, the stretch big man averaged 4.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks, while making 35.4 percent of his 3-point attempts. The Sixers heavily relied on Bolden for the majority last season due to the lack of depth at either big man position. Despite struggling to stay out of foul trouble most of the time, Bolden showed flashes of real potential.
Sadly, his projected floor entering this season won’t be any close to what his stats were last year. It’s not because he’s projected to get worse, but instead because the Sixers vastly improved their depth chart at both center and power forward positions. Al Horford, Tobias Harris and Mike Scott will all be in line for playing time at the four spot before Bolden, while at the five spot Joel Embiid, Horford and Kyle O’Quinn are ahead of Bolden on that depth chart as well.
More from The Sixer Sense
- 3 Sixers players who could help Team USA Basketball
- 76ers 2k24 ratings: 3 most underrated players on Philadelphia roster
- 76ers head coach Nick Nurse bares lofty plans for Paul Reed this season
- Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal
- Sixers Podcast: Danny Green returns + James Harden bombshell
Bolden will be sitting at the end of the bench only getting minutes at the end of game this year or possibly playing a lot for the 76ers G-League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, as I written about in the past. His ceiling isn’t extremely high either this upcoming season and is similar to the role that he played last year.
If Bolden improved with his ability to stay out of foul trouble and his rebounding, while also improving his 3-point percent, then he could overcome O’Quinn in the center depth chart. It’s doubtful he can beat out Mike Scott on the power forward depth chart, but overtaking O’Quinn isn’t out of the question.
O’Quinn is a solid defender and rebounder, but is some what limited on offense. If Bolden can improve his defense and get stronger on that end of the floor, then he could be on a similar level that O’Quinn is as a defender. Bolden is also already a better 3-point shooter then O’Quinn has been. With that in mind, if the second year big man can defend almost as well as veteran can, then it’s possible for Bolden to take O’Quinn’s projected role.
As I wrote in the past, O’Quinn should most likely receive semi-regular minutes most nights, although they won’t be a lot most of the time. O’Quinn could step into a bigger role if Horford or Embiid aren’t available for any length of time. Bolden could take over that role if he improves on defense and would be better suited for it as he can stretch the floor better than O’Quinn.
Bolden has a extremely low floor and ceiling entering this season for the Philadelphia 76ers. It’s fair to say he will have to work the hardest out of the team’s young players for any sort of consistent playing this year.