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          Is the perfect fit for Simmons and Embiid stashed overseas?

          How is Sixers stash Jonah Bolden performing overseas? Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
          • Mike SchmitzJan 28, 2018, 08:06 AM ET

          With 21-year-old rookie stat-stuffer Ben Simmons and 23-year-old All-Star starter Joel Embiid as cornerstones, the Philadelphia 76ers have one of the most exciting young cores in the NBA. Sprinkle in high-level role starters such as Dario Saric (23) and Robert Covington (27), and young bench contributors T.J. McConnell (25) and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (22) and there's reason for the optimism flowing through Philly, even with prized No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz yet to regain form.

          The Sixers are competitive (No. 7 in the East) while still sitting on young talent and future assets. But with all the well-deserved focus on Philly's talented, young roster and its future draft picks, it's easy to forget that the Sixers have the rights to yet another 6-10 versatile Aussie who is producing in the world's second-best league: 22-year-old modern forward Jonah Bolden.

          Despite an untraditional path -- from Australia to Nevada to New Hampshire to Westwood to Serbia to Israel -- the No. 36 pick in the 2017 NBA draft is having a strong season with EuroLeague power Maccabi Tel Aviv, flashing the different aspects he can eventually bring to an the already surging young Sixers core.

          Through 18 EuroLeague games Bolden ranks fourth in steals per 40 minutes (2.31), fifth in defensive rebound percentage, sixth in defensive rating and sixth in blocks per 40 minutes (2.21). The rangy forward offers a unique blend of defensive versatility, playmaking and occasional floor-spacing. According to the DraftExpress database, Bolden is the only under-25 player in EuroLeague's recent history to average at least 2.0 steals, 2.0 blocks, 3.0 assists and 1.5 made 3s per 40 minutes. His physicality, decision-making, shooting and overall consistency can stand to improve, but Bolden has shown his value as a modern big who can make a spot 3, facilitate in space, switch ball screens on the other end and turn teams over with his length and agility.

          Dubbed a prospect to monitor fairly early on in his career, Bolden has taken the long route to what appears to be a promising future at the pro level. Having evaluated Bolden at most every stop since his prep days, his emergence as a fringe 2017 first-round pick and potential future NBA contributor was a pleasant surprise to NBA scouts given his forgettable stint in Westwood less than two years ago.

          We traveled to Madrid to interview and scout Bolden against potential No. 1 pick Luka Doncic and Real Madrid to get a better feel for how he's progressing in Tel Aviv and how his game figures to translate to the next level. Before diving into how he can impact the game at the NBA level, here's a look at Bolden's history with Ben Simmons and Brett Brown in Australia, his short-lived career at UCLA, his one-year stop in Serbia and now his stash year in Tel Aviv.

          For more on Bolden's background, check out our full slate of interviews with him at every stop in his development:

          2013 FIBA U19 World Championship | 2014 Adidas Nations | 2016-17 season with FMP | 2017 pre-draft interview | 2018 Maccabi Tel Aviv

          Windy road to Tel Aviv

          Head coach Brett Brown and Ben Simmons have known Bolden since he was a youth player, and Simmons' father, Dave Simmons, went head-to-head with Bolden's father, Bruce Bolden, 29 times in the NBL while also playing six games together with the Sydney Kings in 1998.

          Jonah Bolden and Ben Simmons eventually played together on a loaded 2012 Adidas Nations team. After that, Bolden told his parents that he wanted to attend high school in the United States like Simmons was. A year later, Bolden made the move to Findlay Prep in Nevada. However, students graduate in December in Australia, so after one semester in the U.S. Bolden was essentially considered a fifth-year senior, meaning he was no longer able to compete. Bolden had to transfer to a prep school to finish up the season, which led him to highly-ranked Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, where he developed under respected coach Jason Smith and eventually committed to UCLA.

          Scouts got another glimpse of Bolden the summer going into his freshman year as he played with the college counselors at Adidas Nations -- a loaded camp also featuring Norman Powell, Donovan Mitchell, Stanley Johnson, Terry Rozier and Frank Kaminsky. He held his own, but that was the last scouts would see of Bolden in live action for some time, since he was ruled ineligible for his freshman season due to the issues involved with transferring credits to the States.

          He also dealt with a torn meniscus, a suspension for violating team rules and an inconsistent approach in terms of work ethic and focus. Bolden had a short leash on the floor -- with a light lower body, he had issues playing through physicality, and he struggled with on-court decision-making at a high level despite having natural instincts. Not always embracing his role as a collegiate 4, Bolden started only 11 games on a team that finished 15-17, averaging 8.6 points per 40 minutes on 48.3 percent from 2 and 25 percent from 3. After having trouble carving out a consistent role during the 2015-16 season, Bolden was more or less written off as a prospect by a lot of NBA personnel.

          With his draft stock tumbling and a reputation of underachievement attached to his name, Bolden eventually opted to turn pro. He spent the summer of 2016 working out with Lonzo Ball, T.J. Leaf and UCLA's heralded freshman class but still wanted to pave his own path to the NBA by signing with FMP in Serbia, which is the feeder team for Serbian powerhouse Red Star.

          "I knew that was going to be my last opportunity, so my whole mindset changed," Bolden said. "I wasn't coming out of high school like, 'Alright, let me go give it a shot, and if it doesn't work, I'm going to come back'. I knew that I was either going to go there and make my dream a reality and go to the NBA or I was just going to stay there, stay in Europe."

          Although starting off slow, Bolden eventually stood out in the ABA League. In the up-and-down, free-flowing league, long, fluid athletes like Bolden pop off the hardwood, and he eventually showed NBA scouts a glimpse of how he could have looked at UCLA with quick outlets from Lonzo Ball. He embraced playing more minutes at the 4 and even some spot minutes at the 5, better understanding how he fits in modern basketball.

          "The 3 and the 4 was kind of up in the air in my college days," Bolden said. "That's kind of a positive thing now. Being able to play the 3 and the 4, it's not really a negative, it's more so that you're able to do both. The 5, that's not really my strong point, but if I'm put in as a center, I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing and take it up a notch."

          FMP went through three different coaches and finished with a 10-18 record, and living accommodations were a far cry from sunny Westwood, but Bolden produced. He averaged 18.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per 40 minutes while shooting 51 percent from 2 and 41.9 percent from 3. He was still working to become more diligent and consistent across the board, but he most certainly rebuilt his stock in one season abroad.

          Valid or not, part of NBA draft stock is about framing and context. When Bolden was no longer viewed as a proverbial UCLA underarchiever and more as a long-armed, fluid forward with shooting potential and stash-ability, he became much more attractive to NBA teams. Watching him produce with a longer leash at the professional level and make it through a full season with three different coaches eased some concerns about the former Bruin.

          "I think I've matured as a man," Bolden said before the 2017 draft. "Since I've been in Serbia, I had to live by myself. I had no roommates. No teammates. I didn't really know anyone when I first got there. I was on my own time. It was more freedom. I had to do my own schedule. We had practice in the morning and the afternoon, but overall I pretty much had to grow up as a person, and that's what I've done."

          After Bolden finished up in Serbia last year, his agent, Daniel Moldovan, held a pro day that was highly attended. While some scouts struggled to shake the image they had of Bolden during his UCLA years, others found his skill set and length intriguing. In a down year for international prospects, Bolden became a hot name.

          He had some looks in the late first round, but after spending the year with FMP, he didn't want to be stashed overseas, which eliminated some suitors. He eventually agreed to be stashed for one year, which is one of the reasons he landed with the Sixers.

          "My whole thing was I didn't want to get stashed," Bolden said in Madrid in early January. "I knew that, me coming out of college, I kind of stashed myself for a year so I thought I was ready to play. I think, at the end of the day, I said, if needed, one year would be the maximum I would do. There were some teams that said, 'Oh we can't promise you one year, you might need two.' I said, 'All the best to you guys, but I'm not really down to do more than one more year in Europe.'

          "So when Philadelphia rang and threw that out there, it was kind of iffy, but Ben [Simmons] was there, Coach Brown, the way they play, young team, they're on the rise. So, for me, it was kind of a no-brainer. Then I knew from there I had to start getting to work."

          After he showed his talent at summer league in Salt Lake, Bolden says Maccabi Tel Aviv came into the picture at Vegas summer league. Sport director Nikola Vujcic and former Atlanta Hawks assistant and current Maccabi head coach Neven Spahija met with Bolden and his agent. Although they've had their ups and downs in recent years, Maccabi Tel Aviv is the Los Angeles Lakers or New York Yankees of Israel, with 61 Israeli League championships and six EuroLeague. Maccabi has been home to pros such as Anthony Parker and Joe Ingles, as well as young prospects such as Dragan Bender. After spending last season with less established FMP, Maccabi Tel Aviv has been a huge step up in organizational infrastructure and competition for Bolden.

          Sixers general manager Bryan Colangelo has been out to see Bolden on multiple occasions, and Philly is working with Maccabi's strength and conditioning staff to make sure Bolden continues to improve his physicality. The original plan was for Bolden to be in Philly next season. Regardless of whether it's next year or beyond, Bolden figures to fit extremely well with the Sixers' personnel and style of play.

          What is Bolden's NBA value?

          Defensive versatility

          Bolden combines a reported 7-foot-3 wingspan and the ability to defend multiple positions with his 6-10 height.

          "Jonah has a unique ability to impact possessions on the defensive end," said Maccabi Tel Aviv assistant coach Tim Fanning, who has coached in Spain and New Zealand and with the Delaware 87ers. "You feel his presence not only because he can guard multiple guys on the ball, but he does a great job of occupying spaces that are vulnerable. Physically, he can do things other guys can't, but he also has a great feel for the game on that end. It has been impressive to see how much more consistent he has become on that end."

          Bolden is comfortable chasing around modern 4s and even some wings, while also switching on to guards and keeping them contained or recovering for blocks at the rim. He's rangy covering ground on closeouts and does a nice job getting shooters off their spots while still making it tough for them in recovery situations.

          The Sixers switch ball screens on 18.34 percent of picks (seventh-most in the NBA), and that plays perfectly to Bolden's strengths. With Simmons capable of defending close to all five positions, a switch-asset such as Bolden, a plus wing-defender such as Covington, a rim protector such as Embiid and even a ball-hound pest such as McConnell, the Sixers have a chance to be extremely disruptive on the defensive end.

          While a versatile one-on-one defender, Bolden also has the agility and length to make plays off the ball. He's quick off his feet with sharp instincts when fully engaged, which could allow him to even operate some as a small-ball center. Although still light in the lower body and not as physical as he could be, Bolden has the measurements of some modern centers, and his ability to protect the rim in a pinch could help him slide up to the 5 for stretches.

          Bolden still has his lapses on the defensive end, though. He plays with great energy for stretches but will coast on occasion. He's still improving his awareness and focus defensively. He doesn't always help on the roller and tends to be a split-second late on rotations, something he's able to cover up with energy when his motor is running hot. He can also stand to be more consistent and physical on the defensive glass, as he gets by more on instincts and length than finding a body.

          Bolden's modern fit on defense is the main reason he may be able to carve out a role with the Sixers as soon as next season. He doesn't need the ball to have an impact, and he fits well with Philly's current personnel, even if they are a bit overloaded with bigs.

          Offensive impact

          "On offense, he is just scratching the surface," Fanning said. "The two most immediate areas I see him improving is being more consistent on the offensive glass and his perimeter shooting. He's shown flashes of being an excellent passer, as well."

          Bolden doesn't have the most refined offensive skill set, but what should allow him to fit in quite seamlessly is his passing ability. He still plays the game a bit sped up at times, but he's getting more and more comfortable making instinctual reads as each game passes. He can grab and go in transition, he has strong vision in short-roll situations, the ball doesn't stick and he's able to space the floor as a passer even when his jumper isn't falling. Bolen should fit right in next to Simmons and Embiid with his quick reads and sharp playmaking. When Fultz returns to form, the Sixers could have at a minimum four plus-playmakers on the floor at once.

          "You see it now, and that's without me," Bolden said of his fit as a passer. "I think bringing me in will definitely help that. Stretch the floor, definitely will be a lot more space. Guys will be more comfortable knowing that they don't need the ball because they'll get the ball. It will definitely just help the team camaraderie and chemistry."

          Bolden also has the ability to impact the game with energy -- when he's fully engaged, at least. Too often he sprints to the 3-point line rather than the rim or doesn't crash the offensive glass. He's also still figuring out when to be a threat as a roller and when to pop, as he opts to shoot to the perimeter on 58.3 percent of his pick-and-roll possessions. Still, there are stretches in which he terrorizes defenses with his activity, which we saw this summer in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. He's an excellent transition target for Simmons, who has already emerged as one of the most dynamic open-floor players in the NBA. The Sixers rank third in the NBA in offensive distance traveled per game (17.82 miles) according to Second Spectrum data, which Colangelo made sure to point out to Bolden.

          "That definitely helps me. That works perfectly with me," Bolden said. "I like to get the rebound, push it, get the rebound pass and run the lane or run down the middle."

          Bolden's swing skill is undoubtedly his shooting, especially if he's expected to share the floor with Simmons. According to the DraftExpress database -- which has 129 games of stats dating back to 2012 -- Bolden is a lifetime 35.6 percent 3-point shooter and 62.1 percent free throw shooter. He's far and away at his best with time and space, picking and popping with slower bigs recovering or spacing to the corner 3. He can stand to become a bit more consistent, especially when faced with hard closeouts. While he has scored 1.265 points per possession on 49 unguarded catch-and-shoot jumpers, according to Synergy Sports (69th percentile), he has hit only 0.542 points per possession on 48 guarded attempts. He's bothered by aggressive contests, another reason why he might benefit from spending some time at the small-ball center spot.

          When Bolden is making shots, he's able to use his fluidity and long strides to attack closeouts and finish or facilitate. He's still working to know when to attack and when to rise up, while also adding a one- or two-dribble pull-up when chased off the line, as he's only 1-of-7 off the bounce this season.

          Bolden's final room for growth comes as a finisher in traffic. He's quick off the floor with long hands and solid touch, but he does have some trouble converting in a crowd, and doesn't' spend all that much time at the free throw line, with only 2.6 attempts per 40 minutes in EuroLeague play. He's also still searching for ways to punish switches in the post, and he would benefit from adding a more reliable short-roll floater when faced with length. Overall, Bolden is not the most dynamic scorer, averaging only 12.2 points per 40 minutes in the EuroLeague.

          Even so, Bolden has the versatility to bring two-way value without needing to pound the ball on the offensive end. He's a transition target for Simmons, a threat to shoot or make plays out of pick-and-pop and a versatile defender on the other end of the floor. With all the focus on Simmons, Embiid and getting Fultz back to 100 percent, Bolden is quietly developing in Tel Aviv, hungry for his opportunity to finally get to the NBA.

          Pasecniks and Lessort

          The Sixers' 2017 first-round pick (25th overall), 7-2 Latvian center Anzejs Pasecniks, is also developing in Europe with ACB and EuroCup club, Gran Canaria in Spain. While we weren't able to make it out to see Pasecniks this season, we've evaluated him extensively in the past while overseas and during his pro day last summer in L.A.

          Pasecniks is a mobile center prospect with soft touch in the arc and some stretch potential. He's continuing to improve his physicality while with Gran Canaria, but could very well turn into a useful NBA player down the road with more seasoning.

          The Sixers also drafted energetic, undersized center Mathias Lessort, who is playing a sizable role in the EuroLeague and Adriatic League for Serbian power Red Star. Lessort still has yet to prove he's an NBA-caliber player but could potentially fill a Tarik Black-type role down the road.