Philadelphia 76ers’ point guard Jerryd Bayless will be re-evaluated in three-to-four weeks after sustaining a left knee sprain during the team’s preseason victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday, the team announced:
Medical Update on Jerryd Bayless: pic.twitter.com/H6GfOIvAIC
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 2, 2018
Bayless is now the second Sixer in two preseason contest to sustain a multi-week injury, as forward Wilson Chandler is also out multiple weeks with a hamstring strain, which he suffered in the team’s first preseason game. Coincidentally, Bayless received the injured Chandler’s minutes after a positive performance during training camp.
While losing a veteran in Bayless certainly hurts the team’s depth a bit, the Sixers should be fine with the playmaking abilities of 2018 Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons and the hopeful second-year guard Markelle Fultz to handle point guard duties.
Fultz, in particular, has shown flashes of new life after undergoing an injury-riddled rookie campaign. The Washington product has shown off a retooled jump shot, which can hopefully bring back similar shooting success to his collegiate tenure:
That’s a 3?? for Markelle Fultz pic.twitter.com/8GfBMqoEVK
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) October 1, 2018
The 30-year-old Bayless averaged 7.9 points, 1.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds in an increased role in 2017-18, but with the full-time addition of Fultz, the veteran will likely be relegated to a reserve role even when he returns to the court.
