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

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
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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.

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  • 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.

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    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.