Phoenix Suns: De’Anthony Melton should be playing

De’Anthony Melton didn’t play in the Phoenix Suns first preseason game, but he should be given a real shot at earning minutes this season.

The Phoenix Suns played their first preseason game on Monday, and although 13 different players took the court, De’Anthony Melton was not one of them. That’s surprising.

Earlier this summer, the Suns acquired Melton, along with Ryan Anderson, from the Rockets in return for Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss. It was an unexpected trade, but it was widely considered a win for the Suns because of the acquisition of Melton.

But when the team finally took the court, Melton didn’t get a chance to play. Instead, the top two point guards on the depth chart to start the season appear to be Shaquille Harrison and Elie Okobo, who played 24 minutes apiece, adding up to all 48 point guard minutes and leaving none for Melton or Isaiah Canaan. But not playing Melton is a mistake.

De’Anthony Melton was the 46th pick in the NBA Draft this summer, and some saw him as one of the better point guards in the draft. He had a great summer league, and the Phoenix Suns liked him enough to get a deal done with Houston. Not to mention, with so much uncertainty, Melton could very well end up being the best point guard of the group and the best fit with the current roster.

He’s an above average defender who would compliment the starters and further improve the bench, and he’s a solid athlete with an improving shot. Maybe he won’t be anything special, but Harrison and Okobo are also far from guarantees, and Melton has just as high if not a higher ceiling than either of them.

Playing Melton makes sense in the long term because of his potential upside, and it makes sense right now because of his fit with Devin Booker and the rest of the roster. He’s an ideal point guard for the modern NBA, and the Phoenix Suns should give him a chance to prove his ability.