The Sixer Sense
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Sixers’ roster leaves plenty of room for Pasecniks, Bolden long term

By Christopher Kline

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 8: Jonah Bolden #43 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 8, 2017 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 8: Jonah Bolden #43 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 8, 2017 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers‘ roster is set up to afford both Anzejs Pasecniks and Jonah Bolden legitimate roles once they make their way to the States.

The bulk of the attention surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers‘ 2017 NBA Draft haul revolved around Markelle Fultz, but their late first and early second round additions could also hold some significant value.

Anzejs Pasecniks and Jonah Bolden, who were selected No. 25 and 36 respectively, will both remain overseas next season. That doesn’t mean, however, that their importance is in any way diminished. Their talent level still exceeds their draft slots, while the current roster — albeit not conducive to the pairing now — could be ready for an infusion of younger frontcourt talent in the near future.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

As it currently stands, the Sixers boast yet another glut in the frontcourt. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons will be backed up by Dario Saric and Richaun Holmes, while Amir Johnson, Jahlil Okafor and James Michael McAdoo will all have some form of relevance as the season transpires. The talent isn’t overly high towards the back end, but there are several guys who can command minutes up front.

That group shouldn’t stay together much longer, though. Johnson was signed to a one-year, $11 million contract, allowing Philadelphia to part ways with the veteran forward next offseason. Assuming his production doesn’t vastly exceed expectations, his value long-term isn’t all that promising.

Okafor finds himself in a different scenario. It’s well-documented that a change of scenery may be best at this stage in his career, while neither his production nor his game warrant any extended run next season. He’ll get minutes based on status alone, but the Sixers will likely make trading him one of their top priorities in 2017.

If he’s still on the books post-trade deadline next February, there’s no guarantee that Bryan Colangelo retains him in the offseason.

McAdoo is on a two-way contract, which won’t last him through all of this season. He’s allowed to spend up to 45 games with the Sixers while on contract, but barring an unexpected breakout, he’s a bottom-of-the-rotation stopgap at the five.

That could feasibly clear out three frontcourt spots by the start of the 2018-19 season.

The remainder of their frontcourt scenario is a bit more complicated. I’d expect Joel Embiid to get a max extension when the time comes, while Dario Saric and Ben Simmons will eventually be extended as well.

Related Story: Why did the Sixers trade up for Anzejs Pasecniks?

Richaun Holmes is the only question mark, as his production may make his services too expensive for the Sixers to invest in beyond his rookie deal. With long-term flexibility in mind, Colangelo’s main goal will be keeping their core in tact. Shelling out double-digit millions for Holmes to provide Embiid’s backup work doesn’t make much fiscal sense if the latter is operating at full health.

That opens the door for both Pasecniks and Bolden to come in within the next couple of seasons and make significant impacts from day one. Both have modern games that fit Brett Brown’s system stylistically, while their defensive presence should be a nice boost down the road.

At 7-foot-2, Pasecniks isn’t the Kristaps Porzingis clone that some make him out to be — but he’s still pretty dang good. He has shown promise as a shooter, while his mobility allows him to get down court in long, fluid strides and operate smoothly as a rim runner. He’s still filling out his frame, but that size also makes him a serious shot blocking threat around the basket.

Bolden flashed a ton of (more polished) upside during his run with the Sixers’ Summer League squad in July. At 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Bolden has the size of a center combined with the mobility and skill set of a stretch four. He can work out to the perimeter offensively, with excellent instincts and hustle yielding stellar work on the defensive end.

Next: Assuming health, Sixers should give Embiid a max extension

Both are first round talents who should have gone higher than they did — and both should play real minutes off the bench as soon as they make their way to Philly. If Dario Saric can’t make it over, at least the Sixers are increasing their chances of a hit overseas.