Why Jerryd Bayless Deserves A Shot

The end of the season for the Raptors wasn’t exactly happy fun times. They went 2-6 in their last 8 games, including a season ending loss to the Miami Heat minus their Big 3. But there was a bright spot hidden in all the doom and gloom (EDDIE HOUSE HAD 35 FREAKIN’ POINTS). Jerryd Bayless played big minutes in all of those games, and showed why he was so highly touted coming out of Arizona.

In the month of April, Bayless averaged 22.5 points, 5.6 assists, and 3 boards on nearly 38 minutes a game. He also shot over 48% from the field, 41.2% from beyond the arc on 4.3 attempts a game, and got to the line 7.3 times a game, and made nearly 83% of those. He also only turned the ball over 2.8 times a game, for a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, and he was the best and most focused perimeter defender on the Raptors. Clearly, he was a positive.

The problem is, two of the prospects the Raptors seem to be most in love with are Brandon Knight and Kemba Walker, both point guards. They're both good players, and drafting them wouldn't be seen as a bad choice. However, I think Bayless has shown that he can be a legitimate starting point guard in the NBA, and I think the Raptors would do well to give him a chance.

Bayless has a knack for getting into the paint, he's a good finisher at the rim, he's able to draw contact and get to the line, and he's also become a plus shooter from the perimeter. He's a committed defender in man-to-man coverage, and his quickness and athleticism allows him to play the passing lanes well and gamble on turnovers without leaving his man wide open. And perhaps most importantly, he's a hard worker and seemingly pathological competitor, someone who is willing to yell at his teammates when they need it.

In a nutshell, he provides something the Raptors could use in every facet of the game: aggresiveness on offense, commitment on defense, and vocal leadership in the locker room. He also allows the Raptors to fill a position of greater need, like center or small forward. He may have his flaws, chief among them limited court vision and recklessness, but he's young enough and intriguing enough to warrant a gamble.