The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Where does Jerryd Bayless fit in the Philadelphia 76ers rotation?

By Rusty Gorelick

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: A close up shot of Jerryd Bayless #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game against the Chicago Bulls on November 25, 2016 at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: A close up shot of Jerryd Bayless #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game against the Chicago Bulls on November 25, 2016 at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

As the season edges closer, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown has to figure out how he will spot minutes to everyone. Where does fringe player Jerryd Bayless fit?

It’s apparent that last season was the final season of tanking in The Process, and now the entire city is banking on the Philadelphia 76ers to bring some glory back to the City of Brotherly Love. Bryan Colangelo brought in three major additions in the offseason in the forms of Markelle Fultz, Amir Johnson, and J.J. Redick. Fultz and Redick are both guards, so that pushes veteran sharpshooter Jerryd Bayless further down the depth chart.

Bayless signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Sixers in the summer of 2016. He was ready to be a starting guard, but he played just three games with a nagging wrist injury, but he couldn’t overcome it and had to miss the season to recover from surgery on it. Now that J.J. Redick has joined the team on a huge one-year deal, Bayless will have to work hard for minutes.

More from The Sixer Sense

Bayless has versatility that is valuable in today’s NBA, and Brett Brown will enjoy having that at his disposal as the season goes on and players get worn down. But based on last season’s performances by his replacements, the 29-year-old will probably be the third point guard in the rotation and will battle with Nik Stauskas to be the third shooting guard. Bayless has shot 36.6 percent from 3-point land in his career, and that number jumped to 43.7 percent in 52 games in his last season with Milwaukee before joining the 76ers.

Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot drastically improved after the All-Star Break last season, and Nik Stauskas had plenty of good moments at both wing spots, and even at the point at times. After lacking good guards for so many years, it’s weird that the Philadelphia 76ers suddenly have a logjam there. Bayless is a good leader and seems like he will work hard to force his way on the court rather than complain to Brown about his lack of playing time.

That said, it would be a mistake on Brown’s part if he doesn’t give Bayless any minutes at all to start the season. By spending most of his career as a role player, he knows how to maximize the few minutes he will get on the court this season. With that in mind, he should get minutes with the second unit or in a small-ball lineup. In a lineup with Stauskas, Redick, Covington or Saric, and Holmes or Embiid, the team could light it up from deep for a few minutes each game. Bayless’s aptitude for playmaking and ball-handling would suit that lineup perfectly if Brown chooses to go small at any point in time this season.

Next: Top 30 players in Sixers franchise history

Bayless has proven that he can play a key role on a good NBA team in the past, and if he can stay healthy this season, he could be a bit of a secret weapon for the Philadelphia 76ers. He has ideal leadership qualities, and if he can find a role and produce well in it, he will prove to be a valuable piece of the Sixers rotation.