Philadelphia 76ers: 5 options for pick No. 39 in 2018 NBA Draft

4. Chimezie Metu

Chimezie Metu is going pro after three seasons at USC. He averaged 15.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game in his final year on campus.

At 6’9″ and 220 pounds, Metu has a slim body and good feet. That allows him to run the floor well, catch lobs in traffic, and even play in the post a bit. He also has a decent first step when facing up defenders. Metu is a solid rim protector, capable of altering and blocking shots despite his relatively short wingspan.

Metu even has some stretch-big potential. He has a decent mid-range game and knocked down 30.0 percent of his 40 3-point attempts in 2017-18. He’s already on track to be an impact player inside, but extending his game could make him even more dangerous.

However, there are questions about Metu’s attitude and effort level. In January, he was suspended for half of a game and lost his captaincy after hitting a player in the groin during a game. He could also stand to be a more consistent rebounder. Metu had 11 double-doubles in 2017-18, but also had nine games with four or fewer boards.

Selecting Chimezie Metu at No. 39 would give the Sixers a potential backup for Joel Embiid that can catch lobs, attack the paint off the dribble and protect the rim. With the right development, he could also add more range to his offensive game.