Phoenix Suns: 3 goals for De’Anthony Melton’s rookie season

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images /
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1. Earn a spot on the All-Rookie team

As the 37th pick in the draft, the odds are stacked against De’Anthony Melton to prove himself as one of the top 10 rookies in the upcoming season, let alone Rookie of the Year. On a losing team, he could post decent numbers and still fall short, simply because rookies with comparable numbers on better teams would get the edge.

However, if the Suns fail to find a starting-caliber point guard on the trade market, Melton has a legitimate shot at winning the starting gig. Even if Okobo wins that job over Melton, or if Phoenix brings in someone else to start over them both, the opportunity for significant minutes is there.

Coming off an impressive Summer League where he averaged 16.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game, Melton certainly looked more NBA-ready than Okobo did. He’s got “draft steal” written all over him, and many draft experts didn’t even expect him to fall that far.

Melton’s jump shot will limit him in the first year of his career, but he’s a tenacious defender who plays passing lanes for steals, rebounds exceptionally well for his position and isn’t afraid to turn those steals and rebounds into immediate fast breaks.

At 6’4″, Melton has good size, positional versatility and all-around instincts on the defensive end. If he can help cover for Devin Booker on that end and even somewhat improve the Suns’ league-worst defense when he’s on the court, he’ll garner some attention from voters.

Obviously his chances of making an All-Rookie team would stand a much better chance if he earns the starting job, but even if he just secures decent minutes as a backup, he’ll have a fighting chance at the All-Rookie Second Team.

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It’s a long shot either way, but if De’Anthony Melton wants to prove himself as a second round steal, he should have a chance to carve out meaningful minutes on one of the youngest teams in the league.