Jevon Carter

Carter primarily served as a backup shooting guard to Devin Booker during the 2019-20 season, and while he didn't post big numbers, his three-point percentage was excellent as he shot 42.5 percent on 2.5 attempts per game. It was his first full season with one team after he had been traded from Memphis in his rookie campaign. The 25-year-old third-year guard averaged just 16.3 minutes per game in his limited backup role, which hampered his ability to post consistent production. Carter hit the 20-point mark only once during 2019-20 in an August contest in the Orlando bubble, draining six three-pointers. It remains to be seen how the Suns' acquisition of Chris Paul will impact Carter, but it could signal a reduced role for the third-year bench guard. Nevertheless, accurate three-point shooting is a sought-after commodity in today's NBA, and Carter should provide some value if he's able to match his dead-eye numbers from last year.

Carter's stint with the Grizzlies lasted one short season following his selection as the second pick of the second round in June 2018. The West Virginia product came into the league on the rise, as he'd improved his scoring over the prior year in each of his last three college seasons and had shot over 38.0 percent from three-point range in each of his last two campaigns as well. Carter also arrived in Memphis with a stellar defensive reputation, averaging 2.3 steals during his four-year career with the Mountaineers. The 23-year-old then averaged 4.4 points, 1.8 assists and 1.7 rebounds across 14.8 minutes over 39 games during his rookie season, but significant inefficiency in the form of 30.3 percent shooting capped his offensive production. Carter was then dealt to the Suns on July 3 as part of a multi-player trade, and he finds himself buried on the depth chart at either guard spot to open his first season in Phoenix. Offseason acquisition Ricky Rubio and 2019 first-round pick Ty Jerome slot in ahead of him at point guard, as does versatile veteran Tyler Johnson. At two-guard, Devin Booker and Johnson are ahead of him for minutes as well. Therefore, Carter could potentially see less than the modest playing time he logged last season and presently only qualifies as an end-of-draft consideration in very deep formats.

The 2018 second-round pick is currently recovering from Aug. 14 thumb surgery, but the prognosis is that he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. Carter saw extensive time in both the Utah and Las Vegas Summer Leagues, averaging 25.7 minutes over three games in the former and 22.3 over seven contests in the latter. It was in Vegas where Carter enjoyed his best run, as he averaged a solid and well-rounded 11.4 points, 4.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals. The West Virginia product enjoyed a solid final two college seasons as well, topping out at 17.3 points, 6.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 3.0 steals as a senior. Carter’s shot does have plenty of room for improvement, however, and he’s seemingly facing a steep climb toward meaningful playing time with capable young veterans Andrew Harrison and Shelvin Mack ahead of him on the depth chart behind starter Mike Conley. Given his potential, Carter appears destined to get a year of seasoning in the G-League in the 2018-19 campaign.