Spurs Sign 2nd Round Pick Metu

[SpursDynasty85]

Keep talking about his shoulder frame but it’s not just about his size. This dude’s game is not a SFs game. Yes he’s somewhat skilled but he would have to reinvent himself and that’s not a smart risk to take. His current abilities as a PF slated him as a second round pick with lots to improve on. There’s a chance reinventing himself into a 3 would be a failure and set him back. He just needs to get stronger and expand his game at the stretch 4 because it’s where he will mostly play.

At first I thought his skill set was limited too but if you look at the Spurs summer league game. He was rarely in the post. He did everything. He drove to the basket with impressive handles, hustled, pick and roll, 3 ball every now and then, and good jumpers. You underrate his skill set. I believe he does have a 3 ball but he takes what the defense gives him and is smart about his chances. Ultimately in the half court set he is mobile enough to gaurd the 3. Who cares if he doesn't have the playmaking of a Tatum or Harden. He can be something different at the 3. We have guys with better offensive skill sets that are better suited for the 4. He could compliment them well by guarding the 3 and being versatile on offense. Check his highlights one more time. He is incredibly quick with his decisions. Should fit in fine at the big lineup 3 or small ball 4.

[TDMVPDPOY]

theres plenty of undersized bigs playing 4/5

then again 4/5 defense has been pretty over the years...i doubt metu will have any problem scoring on them

[KDKSpurs24]

At first I thought his skill set was limited too but if you look at the Spurs summer league game. He was rarely in the post. He did everything. He drove to the basket with impressive handles, hustled, pick and roll, 3 ball every now and then, and good jumpers. You underrate his skill set. I believe he does have a 3 ball but he takes what the defense gives him and is smart about his chances. Ultimately in the half court set he is mobile enough to gaurd the 3. Who cares if he doesn't have the playmaking of a Tatum or Harden. He can be something different at the 3. We have guys with better offensive skill sets that are better suited for the 4. He could compliment them well by guarding the 3 and being versatile on offense. Check his highlights one more time. He is incredibly quick with his decisions. Should fit in fine at the big lineup 3 or small ball 4.

He can probably play it for short spurts. I hope he turns out to be that versatile. I just don’t see the team even attempting to allow that. I even see him as a small ball 5 sometimes. I know it was college but there were times in his highlights he seemed huge on the floor (I know some colleges have smaller players than others) and he played way above the rim. We will see but I’m very excited about having him on the team.

[Joseph Kony]

when was the last time the spurs signed a second round pick for multiple years? Blair? spurs must be high on this kid

[SpursDynasty85]

He can probably play it for short spurts. I hope he turns out to be that versatile. I just don’t see the team even attempting to allow that. I even see him as a small ball 5 sometimes. I know it was college but there were times in his highlights he seemed huge on the floor (I know some colleges have smaller players than others) and he played way above the rim. We will see but I’m very excited about having him on the team.

For sure. Just hearing he has been signed for 3 years and has the full confidence of the Spurs is enough for me. Hope he gets playing time this year. I'd say he's a better fit for the roster this year than Walker.

[ceperez]

I guess we will see how Spurs utilize him. Him being a small ball 4 or a long death lineup 3 is our best bet to beat Golden State or Rockets. If were going by our traditional ways of doing things we may be left behind.

Adding bulk is good but Metu's shoulder frame and hip frame scream 3. He would have to bulk up to be a 4. The 5 is a stretch imo. He could be our secret weapon for GS this year or next. Since Spurs scouted him for a long time, let's see how they utilize him. I think he'd pair well with Gay and Bertans on which case his foot speed matches up better at the 3 than those other two.

I agree here.

Bertans has no real chance at being a 4, yet the Spurs always play him at the 4. In fact, Metu has a better chance at the 4 than Bertans.

The way the game is played these days, there's usually just one big (see: Celtics with just Baynes) and a lot of quicker players. So I'm not going to get hung up if Metu just DOES NOT fit the conventional 4 or 5.

[ceperez]

At first I thought his skill set was limited too but if you look at the Spurs summer league game. He was rarely in the post. He did everything. He drove to the basket with impressive handles, hustled, pick and roll, 3 ball every now and then, and good jumpers. You underrate his skill set. I believe he does have a 3 ball but he takes what the defense gives him and is smart about his chances. Ultimately in the half court set he is mobile enough to gaurd the 3. Who cares if he doesn't have the playmaking of a Tatum or Harden. He can be something different at the 3. We have guys with better offensive skill sets that are better suited for the 4. He could compliment them well by guarding the 3 and being versatile on offense. Check his highlights one more time. He is incredibly quick with his decisions. Should fit in fine at the big lineup 3 or small ball 4.

There was even one summer league game when he hit like a clutch 3 pointer while being heavily covered. The guy can shoot beyond just a set shot.

He's a swiss army knife player. Probably like Boris Diaw but with less skill and experience.

[Truth4sale$]

At first I thought his skill set was limited too but if you look at the Spurs summer league game. He was rarely in the post. He did everything. He drove to the basket with impressive handles, hustled, pick and roll, 3 ball every now and then, and good jumpers. You underrate his skill set. I believe he does have a 3 ball but he takes what the defense gives him and is smart about his chances. Ultimately in the half court set he is mobile enough to gaurd the 3. Who cares if he doesn't have the playmaking of a Tatum or Harden. He can be something different at the 3. We have guys with better offensive skill sets that are better suited for the 4. He could compliment them well by guarding the 3 and being versatile on offense. Check his highlights one more time. He is incredibly quick with his decisions. Should fit in fine at the big lineup 3 or small ball 4.

I agree. I think he has been pegged as a 4/5 due to his height. But that is misleading or miscast. Ayton abused him when matched up against each other. If you look back, some of Kawhi's draft profile had him as hybrid forward due to his length and college rebounding numbers, and lack of polished game. That changed when he arrived on the Spurs. Kyle Anderson was considered to slow to be a guard, thrown in as a small/power forward and flourished. People are saying Rudy Gay is the starting small forward, but he lacks elite athletism or superior ball handling and is 10 lbs heavier than Metu.
Metu has shown growth since his freshman year to summer league. He is versatile. Shoots3's. Rebounds and block shots.
Bottom line, Spurs see something in him now and don't want to limit him to Austin, like Blossomgame. With his length, athleticism, his effort and Spurs coaching. In 2-3 years he will be something.

[r0drig0lac]

I see Metu more as a pf/sf than pf/c

[BackHome]

Yep

[ceperez]

I agree. I think he has been pegged as a 4/5 due to his height. But that is misleading or miscast. Ayton abused him when matched up against each other. If you look back, some of Kawhi's draft profile had him as hybrid forward due to his length and college rebounding numbers, and lack of polished game. That changed when he arrived on the Spurs. Kyle Anderson was considered to slow to be a guard, thrown in as a small/power forward and flourished. People are saying Rudy Gay is the starting small forward, but he lacks elite athletism or superior ball handling and is 10 lbs heavier than Metu.
Metu has shown growth since his freshman year to summer league. He is versatile. Shoots3's. Rebounds and block shots.
Bottom line, Spurs see something in him now and don't want to limit him to Austin, like Blossomgame. With his length, athleticism, his effort and Spurs coaching. In 2-3 years he will be something.

Spurs have rarely ever signed a 2nd rounder to a long term contract. In the case of Blair, he was actually the Spurs first pick in that draft. Blair played almost every game in the first two seasons with the Spurs. Averaging more than 18 minutes a game for the first three seasons.

The only other 2nd rounder signed and drafted by the Spurs was Manu. This is how rare these signings are!

I have zero doubt that Metu will be a valuable player in the Spurs roster. He's the kind of player you need in today's NBA. I guess the closest comparison I can make right now is a smaller Chris Bosh.

Bosh, Chris 225 6' 10.25" 6' 11.5" 7' 3.5" 9' 1"
Metu, Mezi 220 6'8.5" 6’9.5 7’0.5 9'0"
LaMarcus Aldridge, 234, 6' 10'', 6' 11.25'', 7'4.75, 9' 2'

[keithington1]

I read an article that called him a raw Paul Millsap. I can see that.

[cjw]

Spurs have rarely ever signed a 2nd rounder to a long term contract. In the case of Blair, he was actually the Spurs first pick in that draft. Blair played almost every game in the first two seasons with the Spurs. Averaging more than 18 minutes a game for the first three seasons.

Right - Blair was a different type of second rounder than most. Part of the reason his stock was down was because of his size vs. centers in the league, but he was one of the elite rebounders in college basketball and you can’t tesch rebounding.

The REAL reason he wasn’t a first rounder was his knees. The concern wasn’t that he’d be able to play a solid few years, but more long term. And he did end up having a short career, albeit better than a lot of guys picked higher in that same draft (believe Patty and Green were also second rounders). Whataburger did him in.

[ceperez]

Right - Blair was a different type of second rounder than most. Part of the reason his stock was down was because of his size vs. centers in the league, but he was one of the elite rebounders in college basketball and you can’t tesch rebounding.

The REAL reason he wasn’t a first rounder was his knees. The concern wasn’t that he’d be able to play a solid few years, but more long term. And he did end up having a short career, albeit better than a lot of guys picked higher in that same draft (believe Patty and Green were also second rounders). Whataburger did him in.

Yes, but both weren't drafted by the Spurs.

[ismael-robert]

Lack of height did him in. Great scorer n rebounder but couldn't guard anyone in post

[Dejounte]

I agree. I think he has been pegged as a 4/5 due to his height. But that is misleading or miscast. Ayton abused him when matched up against each other. If you look back, some of Kawhi's draft profile had him as hybrid forward due to his length and college rebounding numbers, and lack of polished game. That changed when he arrived on the Spurs. Kyle Anderson was considered to slow to be a guard, thrown in as a small/power forward and flourished. People are saying Rudy Gay is the starting small forward, but he lacks elite athletism or superior ball handling and is 10 lbs heavier than Metu.
Metu has shown growth since his freshman year to summer league. He is versatile. Shoots3's. Rebounds and block shots.
Bottom line, Spurs see something in him now and don't want to limit him to Austin, like Blossomgame. With his length, athleticism, his effort and Spurs coaching. In 2-3 years he will be something.

This is accurate. Kawhi was projected to be a SF/PF but ended up being a SF/SG. Dejounte was projected to be a SG, but the Spurs molded him into their top PG. Derrick White has been projected to be a PG in college then the Spurs used him as a SG all season long last year (on the Austin Spurs he played more PG)

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

lol half of spur stalk wants to put dijon at sf and the other half metu at sf

[ace3g]

[Chinook]

Want a PG and a big wing as the two two-way guys. It's a shame they seemed to have passed on Dangubic, but there are still a couple of decent guys to take fliers on. Maybe waiting to see if a guy is cut in another camp makes sense. There will be guys drafted in the second round who don't make teams this year, maybe even those drafted before Metu.

[NickiRasgo]

What's his real height by the way? Here in article it's listed him as 6'11" while others site are listed him as 6'8" (w/ shoes) or 6'9" (w/o shoes) and others are 6'10".

[KDKSpurs24]

What's his real height by the way? Here in article it's listed him as 6'11" while others site are listed him as 6'8" (w/ shoes) or 6'9" (w/o shoes) and others are 6'10".

In his USC highlights he looks huge on court at times. I know it’s college but I think it’s hard to look that tall compared to other players unless you’re around 6’10 in shoes.

[BackHome]

Want a PG and a big wing as the two two-way guys. It's a shame they seemed to have passed on Dangubic, but there are still a couple of decent guys to take fliers on. Maybe waiting to see if a guy is cut in another camp makes sense. There will be guys drafted in the second round who don't make teams this year, maybe even those drafted before Metu.

Why do you want a PG we have White and Murray?

[Chinook]

Why do you want a PG we have White and Murray?

Because they need depth. Honestly, I want a vet PG on the 15, but they can probably make it through the year with just a seasoned d-leaguer. Honestly, it's pretty startling how few PGs Pop has on the roster, given his usual proclivity to having too many.

[Fusternino]

What's his real height by the way? Here in article it's listed him as 6'11" while others site are listed him as 6'8" (w/ shoes) or 6'9" (w/o shoes) and others are 6'10".

6'8.5" w/o shoes 6'9.5" w/ shoes.

[ceperez]

6'8.5" w/o shoes 6'9.5" w/ shoes.

Decent size, but certainly not a center. More like a borderline PF.