2018 NBA Draft: 5 potential second round steals
By Connor Harr
1. De’Anthony Melton, SG/PG — Houston Rockets (No. 46)
Never will I ever be able to understand how De’Anthony Melton slipped this far in the draft. Never will I ever be able to understand how 29 other teams let the Houston Rockets select him. Melton was an obvious mid-to-late first round pick in my opinion. He ranked out at No. 19 on my final big board. His fit with Houston makes him that much more valuable.
Melton is an undersized combo guard at 6’3″. He did not play with USC at all this season because of the FBI probe. Despite no 5-on-5 game experience throughout the year, Melton seems like a talent who is clearly better suited for the NBA. He has tremendous passing vision along with an improving handle and jump shot that appears to be very projectable.
Melton’s real value though is on the defensive side of the ball. He is incredibly quick laterally and despite being undersized, has the strength and length to guard at least two positions. Where the Rockets will really value him though is as a potential lead guard stopper. He has some secondary creation equity right now, but likely will not be a good offensive player within his first year.
Next: Complete 2018 NBA Draft grades for all 30 teams
Even though Melton was not the highest player on this list on my big board, I love the team fit. He can be one of the better perimeter defenders in the league and have a very simplistic offensive role. De’Anthony Melton is the second round and could be the steal of the entire 2018 NBA Draft.