San Antonio Spurs: 3 reasons Chimezie Metu was a good pick
By Ty Delbridge
3. Defensive potential
In his three seasons at USC, Metu blocked a total of 168 shots and had 74 steals. At 6’9.5”, he is an explosive leaper and moves fast. He has the tools to be a solid frontcourt defender if he buys in on the defensive end.
Metu has the potential to be a good rim protector who may not block a ton of shots but will contest and affect shooters down low. He needs to become a bit more disciplined in his fouling, but Metu reacts and jumps quick. The forward from USC has a big, sturdy frame and will not be pushed around down low by bigger guys once he adds muscle to his body. Metu can also block shots with either hand, which is an intriguing skill for a big man.
He also has the ability to switch onto guys out on the wing. Metu moves well for his size, has quick feet and will not get exploited by guards who just blow by him. In today’s NBA, teams are looking for bigs that can switch and defend multiple positions. He needs to improve his footwork, but the potential is there for him to be a decent perimeter defender in the future.