Philadelphia 76ers Point Guard Situation is… Fluid

With Anthony Barber, Jerry Bayless and Ben Simmons injured, the believed-to-be-resolved point guard role is very much up in the air for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers ended the 2014-2015 where they began on the point guard front.  After begining the season with no clear starter, the team auditioned any number of players before trading two second round draft picks for former 76ers point guard Ish Smith.

However, at the end of the season, Smith became a free agent and signed with the Detroit Pistons.  So the Philadelphia 76ers were left with undrafted T.J. McConnell, the commitment to develop first round draft pick Ben Simmons out of point forward and into a point guard and… not much else.

More from Sixers News

• 3 Sixers players who could help Team USA Basketball
• 76ers 2k24 ratings: 3 most underrated players on Philadelphia roster
• 76ers head coach Nick Nurse bares lofty plans for Paul Reed this season
• Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal
• Breaking Down Bombshell Report on Sixers Star James Harden

Needless to say, the point guard position was a huge priority for the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.   First the team signed former Milwaukee Bucks guard Jerryd Bayless. Then the team scanned the globe for Euroleague’s point guard from Real Madird in Sergio Rodriguez. Finally, the team signed undrafted N.C. State point guard Anthony Barber (“Cat” Barber).

When all the smoke cleared, it seemed that the team had oversigned at the position most critical to the team’s success this year.  After all, by all accounts, the final third of the season was expected to witness large doses of Ben Simmons rotating into his new point guard role.

But the team’s status at the point guard position has been rather… fluid… this year.

The Tide’s Ebb

It began with the news so many feared in Philadelphia, Ben Simmons had fractured his foot and would need surgery. As preseason began, the team had to absorb the disappointment of knowing Ben Simmons would not be able to debut for the Philadelphia 76ers for three months.

Ah, but no matter. You see, the over-signing of Bryan Colangelo to the one role resulted in Jerryd Bayless, Sergio Rodriguez, T.J. McConnell, Anthony Barber and the eventual heir apparent, Ben Simmons, standing in line for the point guard position for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Much like the perception of a logjam at the center position, the competition for point guard was only on paper.  As preseason began, fans learned that Cat Barber would sit pending recovery to his right wrist injury.

Alongside him on the bench is Jerryd Bayless, whose left wrist is the source of much consternation with the team early in the preseason.  Reported as “soreness”, results of a diagnostic MRI indicate complications that may very well impact his ability to play when the season starts.

For now, there are just two healthy point guards for the Philadelphia 76ers: T.J. McConnell and Sergio Rodriguez.  In fact, the situation at point guard, once perceived to be fully addressed and robust for the team, appears to be lacking once more.  Not only lacking in healthy players, but in the secrecy of players health – a matter of huge objection during Sam Hinkie’s tenure with the club.

Court Time, Not Bench Time, Wins Roster Spots

The Philadelphia 76ers are deeper at all positions this year, but no position has more depth than the point guard position. At least, on paper.

In fact, it was the teams overabundance of competition at the one which led head coach Brett Brown to announce that if the season started on October 1st, Jerryd Bayless would be the starting point guard.

More from The Sixer Sense

• 3 Sixers players who could help Team USA Basketball
• 76ers 2k24 ratings: 3 most underrated players on Philadelphia roster
• 76ers head coach Nick Nurse bares lofty plans for Paul Reed this season
• Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal
• Sixers Podcast: Danny Green returns + James Harden bombshell

Only one small problem there coach, Bayless has not stepped into a game environment in a 76ers jersey yet.  In fact, of the five players associated with the point guard role, only Sergio Rodriguez and T.J. McConnell are putting in court time at the role.

The point guard situation continues to be… fluid.

The battle for point guard is currently between T.J. McConnell and Sergio Rodriguez.

In three preseason games so far, McConnell has averaged 10 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2 steals, 3.3 turnovers and 2.7 fouls per game.  McConnell has averaged 50 percent from the floor and from three point range so far.

Rodriguez has played behind McConnell and averaged 8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, .7 steals, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls per game.

However, the trend so far in just three games is declining for McConnell, and rising for Rodriguez.  While McConnell’s scoring and assists have gone 13/5(24 Mins), 12/7 (34.6 mins in 2OT) and 5/3 (20 mins); Rodriguez has gone the opposite direction at 5/6 (22 Mins), 4/5 (18 Mins), 15/8 (27 mins).

As much as I appreciate McConnell’s competitive spirit, I like what I see from Rodriguez so far.

Have Injuries at PG Opened Door to Trade?

As the Philadelphia 76ers continue to watch time pass, the struggle to get healthy bodies onto the court at point guard will become an ever more critical priority.  Will the team be content with two healthy point guards heading into the season if they are Sergio Rodriguez and T.J. McConnell?

Hoops Habit

History suggests the team will seek reinforcements.  The team signed multiple players heading into this season. If two or more cannot step up in time for the NBA season, does the team tap other NBA teams rich at the point guard spot?

In the past, the Philadelphia 76ers had been linked to the Phoenix Suns’ Brandon Knight, or more recently to the Golden State Warriors Shaun Livingston.

Until now, its suspected that it’s the 76ers hesitation to part ways with any of their centers before Christmas to ensure the team has confirmed the healthy status of the two remaining with the team.  But if the team continues to receive bad news at that point guard position, will they pull the trigger on a trade to reinforce the very important back court?

With the recent surge of Richaun Holmes in preseason, the team may be persuaded to do so.

For now, the team will muddle along in preseason. We know that while Ben Simmons development at point guard may be delayed, he will eventually migrate, negating any need to find a starter for the one for the not-too-distant future.

Next: Game Recap: Philadelphia 76ers Vs Cleveland Cavaliers

But today, the team needs to build some positive momentum.  Although fluid, the team must resolve the immediate and future questions at point guard soon.  Let’s not have another season where we allow questions at the all-too-important point guard position to linger.