San Antonio Spurs: 3 reasons Chimezie Metu was a good pick
By Ty Delbridge
The San Antonio Spurs came into the 2018 NBA Draft with two picks. With their second round pick, they selected one of the most intriguing players in the entire draft in Chimezie Metu.
With their first pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs may have gotten one of the biggest steals of the night in Lonnie Walker IV from Miami. Walker is one of the most talented scoring guards in the class and somehow slipped to the Spurs at No. 19.
At No. 49, San Antonio went with USC big man, Chimezie Metu. He is a raw prospect who was being slotted as a first round pick earlier in the season. Metu is an athletic big who is 6’9.5” and 220 pounds. He averaged 15.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.6 assists per game last season while shooting 53.3 percent from the field and 30.2 percent from the 3-point line.
The Spurs took a chance on Metu and are hoping they can develop him into a meaningful player like they have done many times in the past. The Ringer labeled Metu as a “raw, moldable big man who flashes two-way upside but lacks any one refined skill aside from explosive lob dunks. ”
Metu only has a 7’0” wingspan, is not the most aggressive rebounder on either end of the floor and is often inconsistent with his play. However, he has the athleticism and two-way potential to be a solid player in the NBA and may have landed in the best situation for him by being drafted by the Gregg Popovich and the Spurs. With that in mind, here are three reasons Metu has a good pick.