76ers Need To Seriously Rethink Adem Bona's Role

It may be time to have a serious conversation about a specific player that was expected to do more for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The player that needs to be addressed is Adem Bona. The 76ers kept out Joel Embiid as a precaution for his knee pain. Which meant Bona assumed the starting role. A role that he is ill-prepared for. Don’t get it twisted, he’s not a horrific player, but if the 76ers have to rely on him as a long-term solution at any point in the season, they are in serious trouble. 

Bona is as good of a rim protector as he can be; it’s just not enough. When he’s in the paint, his  opponent can maneuver around him at times. Meanwhile on the offensive end, he’s shooting threes like he’s Tyrese Maxey. His skill set just doesn’t fit this team and how they want to play. If they want to run a half-court play and need defense, sure, you can put him in for a series or two, but it may not yield the results you want. He tends to have a bad habit of committing unnecessary fouls. Bona had five fouls against the Hornets.

The team would have a better run if they had Jabari Walker play in his place. In his 19 minutes, he has given more to this team in terms of his offensive production. Walker scored 12 points and managed to secure 6 rebounds in the process. The one thing that really separates the two is his three-point shooting. While Walker was only 1-4 from three, Bona was 0-1, knowing that that's not his game. When Walker is in, he brings a jolt of energy to the team. Bona worked hard during the offseason in an effort to prove he should be the backup, and it just hasn’t translated very well.

Dean Wade as the center has been a better option compared to Bona. His on-ball defense is unmatched in comparison to Bona; his first step is above Bona's, and it keeps the paint from being abused so easily. The center position has always been a concern, and it’s just something that has to be accepted for the time being, but that doesn’t mean that you have to keep playing the same players.

This isn’t to say Bona should be completely dropped from the rotation because his size is an advantage for the team; he just has to be used in certain situations. It’s a long season, and there are still questions surrounding this team, but it will all be answered soon enough.