Phoenix Suns sign rookie guard De’Anthony Melton
Sep 21, 2018, 3:27 PM
(AP Photo/John Locher)
The Phoenix Suns announced the signing of rookie guard De’Anthony Melton on Friday to a guaranteed two-year, $2.3M deal on Friday, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Melton was originally drafted by the Houston Rockets 46th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft but did not officially sign with the team.
The wait is over 🙌🏾 https://t.co/xclfmWOE80
— De’Anthony Melton (@DeAnthonyMelton) September 21, 2018
The Suns acquired Melton along with Ryan Anderson in a trade that sent Marquese Chriss and Brandon Knight to Houston on Aug. 31.
In his lone 2016-17 season played at USC, Melton averaged 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He tied the school record in steals with 69.
Melton withdrew from USC before his sophomore season and entered the draft prior to his school announcing that he would have to sit out the entire season due to an investigation of a close family friend being linked to a college basketball bribery scandal.
Melton averaged 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists at the 2018 Summer League, the only rookie to put up those numbers. One of his Summer League highlight performances was against the Los Angeles Clippers where he finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc.
The Suns officially have 18 players on the roster currently, including four point guards.
Phoenix has reportedly shown interest in point guards Patrick Beverley, Cory Joseph, Spencer Dinwiddie and Tyus Jones.