Arriving in the summer of 2019 on the Memphis side from Phoenix, De’Anthony Melton only needed a season to convince the Grizzlies, who decided to bet on him for years to come. Melton remains in Memphis through a four-year extension.
Four more years, for a total of $ 35 million according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Not bad for a player who is just coming out of his sophomore season after being drafted 46th by the Rockets in 2018. A sophomore season in which the 22-year-old guard showed he could make a real contribution to a struggling team in the race for the Playoffs in the West. Off the bench, with about 20 minutes of playing time per game, Melton brought in 7.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 interceptions. His contribution to the second unit has often helped his Memphis team, which surprised everyone in 2019-20 spearheaded by the awesome rookie Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. & Cie. De’Anthony has released some offensive performance here and there despite the lack of shoot in his repertoire but it is especially his defensive impact that is to be emphasized. Solid in his own half of the field and formidable thief of balloons, the backcourt player was able to make the difference for the Oursons. The management of the Grizzlies thus decided to put dollars on the restrictive free agent, and this despite a rather catastrophic bubble in attack (4.4 points on average at 27.1% shooting, 13% at 3-points and 40 % on free throws, long live the briquasse).
De’Anthony Melton, the 46th pick in the 2018 NBA draft, now has the highest net salary from his class for the 2020-21 season ($9.6M). https://t.co/W2EPs9kSJF
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 21, 2020
This extension over four years and 35 million shows in any case that the Grizzlies are counting on him in the current project of the franchise. The core of young players is obviously very promising with Morant, JJJ, Brandon Clarke or Dillon Brooks, and Melton is also part of that. He will have to work in order to surpass his current offensive limits while keeping the same impact in defense. to justify this contract offered by Memphis. Given the rise he is experiencing, we tell ourselves that betting on him can be a good thing, even if at first the amount may seem high. Note that in addition to Melton, the Grizzlies also signed John Konchar – former two-way contract not drafted – with a four-year deal for $ 9 million according to The Athletic. There you go, you will go to bed less stupid this evening.
Useful off the bench last season, De’Anthony Melton landed a good contract, and the Grizzlies are counting on him to continue to contribute to a young and ambitious team that will want to participate in the Playoffs in the not so distant future.
Source texte : The Athletic
