NBA Draft 2017 Prospect Watch: Jonah Bolden
By Adam McGee
Fit with the Bucks
Bolden may not be the perfect or most obvious fit for the Bucks, but there are certainly reasons for why he should appeal.
The Australian is a talented and strong forward, who due to his experience of playing against stronger professionals should be able to play some minutes immediately as a rookie.
With Jabari Parker likely to be out injured until the All-Star break at least, Bolden could help the Bucks to fill that sizeable hole in their forward production.
Bolden is not the scorer Jabari is by any means, but he offers some similar attributes in terms of his movement and athleticism. Particularly in transition, Bolden could act as something of a proxy offering an outlet from lobs and with strong finishes.
Beyond that, with questions about Parker’s potential long-term future impacted by his health, Bolden could offer an insurance policy. The players are far from identical, but Bolden has much greater defensive potential and could make for an interesting option if he comes close to realizing it.
Next: NBA Draft 2017 Prospect Watch: D.J. Wilson
In terms of value, Bolden would almost certainly be a reach at 17, but is unlikely to make it all the way to 48.