The Sixer Sense
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Sorry Brett Brown, I’m Not Sold On Philadelphia 76ers Jerryd Bayless

By Bret Stuter

Mar 1, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown reacts during the first half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown reacts during the first half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown recently named five players who could fit next year’s style of play. But naming Jerryd Bayless does nothing but worry me

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown has been spectacular so far.  He’s optimized the roster. During his tenure, the Philadelphia 76ers has been developing talent.  As such, the team has operated with less than top tier talent, and frequently shackled with restrictions on playing minutes. He’s even been handed rosters with two or more players injured for the season and been tasked with coaching what’s left.

So please understand that what I am about to share is in the most hesitancy I muster.  Naming guard Jerryd Bayless in the company of next year starters does nothing but worry me.

Now, nobody needs to come to Brett Brown’s defense in the comments section. I love the guy, and if it were up to me, I would have him under a lock tight contract for the Philadelphia 76ers for the next 20 years.  But every so often, we part ways.  Unfortunately this is one of those occasions.

When Brett Brown hinted at the 2017-2018 season’s possible starting five, there was the matter of shooting guard.  In his foreshadow, he lists in a very specific order: Simmons, Bayless, Covington, Saric, and Embiid.

Bayless.  We’re talking about Bayless.

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Bayless Strong Reserve, Bayless Not Starter

Now don’t get me wrong. I think Jerryd Bayless can be a productive contributor. On one hand, I believe he has a place on this roster. And so, I feel he can offer the type of defense needed in the back court.  On the other hand, I won’t be “sold” on a player.  Let me see for myself.  And no player who sits on the bench for a year as a veteran can be expected to come back on par or even better than before.

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    • The complication of the Philadelphia 76ers roster is simply this: Ben Simmons can play the offensive side of the point guard role.  Still, he cannot defend NBA point guards.  Since he is not at the level of defense, he needs a special type of teammate in the back court.  His backcourt bookend needs to be versatile.

    So I understand the temptation to slide an NBA recognizable veteran’s  name into the conversation is real.  But let’s step back for a moment and frame this into the context

    More Shooting Guards Than You Can Shake A Stick At

    The Philadelphia 76ers are loaded today, and next season, at the shooting guard role. The Philadelphia 76ers have Gerald Henderson, Nik Stauskas, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Furkan Korkmaz internationally, and Jerryd Bayless.

    But the Philadelphia 76ers also have 2017 NBA Draft picks to use.   There are a couple stars in this draft.  If the Philadelphia 76ers land guard Markelle Fultz, does the team bench Fultz to play Bayless?  I don’t think so.

    In similar fashion, I can’t deny that the recent surge of TImothe Luwawu-Cabarrot’s progress has me in the camp that TLC has earned serious consideration to start next year. While he needs to improve his three-point shooting in the off-season, the audacity of the young man’s defense is simply a joy to see in a 76ers jersey.

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    Bayless Doesn’t Stand Out

    The veteran signed up as a mentor, to absorb quality minutes, and to stopgap the team until rookies could play never showed up.  Bayless arrived injured, and was never able to step past that injury.

    It’s from this perspective that I speak.

    I don’t anoint veteran players without seeing it on the court.  Veterans earned their reputation in a system, with a finite set of players and schemes, and they learned to flourish.  That has no cause-effect relationship with the scheme of the Philadelphia 76ers.

    A Role Is Not A Start

    Jerryd Bayless has a role to play on this team.  He could come off the bench to ignite the offense. On the flip side, he could set up at the perimeter and get the team back into the game with accurate three-point shots.  He can pick up minutes in rotation, or even pick up some starts in back-to-back.

    But he’s capped his potential. He is a known on this team in a universe of variables. To a coach, it’s tempting to insert a constant to deliver a “known”, rather than insert one more variable into the equation of a game.

    Next: Ben Simmons Snubs Sixers Organization in Injury Update

    After all, the team has Stauskas, Korkmaz, and most of all, TLC, who could benefit from a starting role.  I’d like to think younger guys have a chance at it.  If we land Markelle Fultz in the 2017 NBA Draft, I would like to believe he can start as well.