The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers: 5 Reasons Jerryd Bayless is a Good Signing

By Josh Wilson

Nov 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Jerryd Bayless (19) during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Jerryd Bayless (19) during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Ben Simmons (LSU) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number one overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Ben Simmons (LSU) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number one overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Fits with Simmons

What may be an overlooked positive element of this signing is that Bayless fits in pretty decently with first overall pick Ben Simmons. Simmons might need a specific type of point guard in the lineup with him, and Bayless just might be that guy.

Live Feed

Pass or Pursue: 3 High-Profile Spurs Trade Targets from Bleacher Report
Pass or Pursue: 3 High-Profile Spurs Trade Targets from Bleacher Report /

Air Alamo

  • 4 Trae Young trades the Hawks should consider FanSided
  • The Whiteboard: Wild cards who could reshape the 2023-24 NBA season FanSided
  • 5 Players Blazers could swap Jerami Grant for to keep tanking hopes alive Rip City Project
  • NBA Rumors: Ben Simmons in best shape of his life for third time in 3 years FanSided
  • NBA rumors: Erik Spoelstra is a trojan horse, surprise suitor for JaVale McGee, Ben Simmons still loves Philly FanSided

    • Although having a solid point guard — one who can score and also pass — is a great plan for most teams, having a pass-heavy guard on the court with Simmons could be damaging. Simmons is a point-forward type of player, a player who requires the ball in his hands a lot. Simmons can facilitate the offense himself, much like a pass-first point guard does at times.

    Bayless, who averaged 2.5 assists last season, is not a pass-heavy guard like many others who run the point position are. Instead, he does a lot more scoring, averaging 9.1 points per game in Milwaukee last year.

    What’s nice is that Bayless is familiar with this. The Bucks had an experimental year, especially in the latter half of the season in 2016. They allowed the “Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo to run the point a large chunk of the time, and Bayless knows how to work as a guard even in that situation.

    The Bucks second most used lineup last season had Giannis and Bayless together, so I have confidence in the potential with Simmons and Bayless together.

    Next: 76ers Need to Make Run at Rubio

    With Isaiah Canaan and Ish Smith out of the picture, Bayless and Simmons on the floor could be a good combination, better than any of those two could have offered.