Redrafting the 2018 NBA Draft: Elite playmakers and modern bigs

He’s not the sexiest name in the re-draft lottery, but De’Anthony Melton has more than earned this position. The NBA discourse is too often boiled down to individual heroics and broad generalizations about star players. But the simple fact is that basketball is a team sport, and in team sports you need star role players too. Melton won’t carry much of the scoring burden, but he will significantly elevate his team’s defense while providing more than enough support offensively.

Injuries have been influential in Melton’s career up to this point, but when he’s healthy very few guards can match the 24-year-old’s tornado-like presence on the defensive end. He’s one of the NBA’s best pickpockets, using his 6-foot-8 wingspan to intercept passes or to smother the point of attack.

Melton has also made himself into quite the complementary player on offense. Don’t ask him to do too much, and Melton will thrive in virtually any setting. He’s an above-average shooter who attempts a healthy volume of 3-pointers. He can attack closeouts and use his athleticism to rocket his way to the rim for a finish. He’s also willing and able to facilitate, though it’s wise to think of Melton as connective tissue, not the central nervous system. He can’t drive the car, but he can make sure it’s running smoothly.

Not many NBA sixth man will be more important to their team’s success this season than Melton in Philadelphia. He’s the ultimate 3-and-D role player in many respects. He doesn’t demand touches or hog possessions, but his role is scalable depending on need and he’s sure to make his presence felt on the defensive end.