Sixers: Is Jerryd Bayless still the best available option next to Ben Simmons?

As the Sixers gear towards the 2017 NBA Draft, speculation on what position they will attack is rising. With guard being a need, could the Sixers look beyond Jerryd Bayless.

Jerryd Bayless was the Sixers biggest signing last offseason. At three-years, $27 million, Bayless was looked at as the immediate complement for point forward Ben Simmons. His ability to decently defend the perimeter and score from the outside earned him what has been called a pricey contract.

But his previous season with Milwaukee saw him shooting 43.7% from three-point land, earning career-highs in both effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage. All this next to point forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.

This is why the Sixers went into the season thinking they found a solid veteran option for the next three seasons. But the first season was nothing to write home about. A hand injury kept Bayless out for practically the entire season, appearing in just three games early in the season.

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So now the Sixers are heading into year two of the Bayless contract, with an outside scorer still at the top of the checklist. The 2017 NBA Draft features scorers with high potential that can step in right away and be the scorer is right now, the prime candidate being Malik Monk.

And even if the Sixers go in another direction come draft time, there are other options in free agency Philadelphia could scour through. While Patty Mills basically replicates the same abilities Bayless gives, he does provide higher production possibility and is a more able distributor.

He’ll come at a perceived high price, but if the Sixers aren’t confident in their current assets, Mills might be an option. It would give the team more depth at guard, but it’s debatable that his production will outweigh his contract considering Bayless’ role.

Bayless will get a lot of time next to Simmons this upcoming season, but it won’t be surprising to see his perceived role decrease drastically. Especially with talks of the Kings looking to trade back in the draft, the Sixers could collect two top ten picks in a guard-loaded class. Monk and maybe a Donovan Mitchell would both be superior options for different reasons.

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So, no. Bayless isn’t the best available option, but he’s on the roster and under contract. He’ll find a role on this team, and could be the team’s most important bench player behind Dario Saric.