Spurs Sign 2nd Round Pick Metu

[TimmyBuckets]

i dont think hes skinny, he looks pretty built to me at least...

Narrow shoulders

[Truth4sale$]

Spurs used up their last roster spot for Metu. Not sure why people think their is a 15th spot. Poindexter was 14, and Metu is 15.Smart move to lock him up for 3, I would have like to have seen 4 years. This year is a redshirt year, to gain weight and improve his handle. He is a 3/4 as opposed to a 4/5. Watch out in 3 years with Metu, Walker and Murray
Blossomgame will get the two way deal. Nobody of any value is left, or he goes overseas. Gleague is a waste for him. Work on the ball handling and 3pt shot and he is a regular rotation player

[bklynspursfan]

His game just never blossomed tbh.

I see what you did there

[paperboy77]

He played soccer.

Both Manu and Tony played soccer. This explains there excellent foot work.

Imagine a mobile big with elite footwork ( i.e. Olajuwon).

Just watch his highlights in a single summer league game:



He's doing everything!!

Jump hook
3 point shot
Mid range jumper fadeaway
Drive and kick
Clean block and recover
Pump fake and hook

Spurs should have locked him up even longer than 3 years!

Spurs now have a DEATH LINEUP:

Murray, DeRozan, Gay, Metu, Aldridge or

Murray, Walker, DeRozan, Gay, Metu

Good video of him. What i really like that i saw was his hands. Not sure if in that game but there was a play which he had a low pass thrown to him in traffic and he was able to catch like a receiver catches a football that's thrown behind him. Anyway that kinda stuff you cant teach, it's instinct. That dude really has upside. Can't wait to see him. But he's gotta stay aggressive and confident. Hopefully Pop doesn't decide to neuter this guy.

[r0drig0lac]

putting some shooters and athletes around Aldridge / Demar really leaves a little hope for the future, now if somehow they could replace Forbes and Gasol would be perfect

[cd021]

How did they sign him to a 3 year deal? The minimum is only for 2 years?

Either way, I am glad. Really like his footwork and skill on offense and his potential as a rim protector on D.

Metu needs to bulk up in the worst way, though. His body is probably two years away from being where it needs to be, he is incredibly slight for a big.

[Chinook]

How did they sign him to a 3 year deal? The minimum is only for 2 years?

Either way, I am glad. Really like his footwork and skill on offense and his potential as a rim protector on D.

Metu needs to bulk up in the worst way, though. His body is probably two years away from being where it needs to be, he is incredibly slight for a big.

They had the MLE. Still have enough to sign a number of players

[ceperez]

How did they sign him to a 3 year deal? The minimum is only for 2 years?

Either way, I am glad. Really like his footwork and skill on offense and his potential as a rim protector on D.

Metu needs to bulk up in the worst way, though. His body is probably two years away from being where it needs to be, he is incredibly slight for a big.

Although he played C and PF in Summer League, I think his size is more compe ive at SF.

The young bench is indeed very intriguing:

White, Walker, Bertans, Metu, Poetl

Perhaps they can run the other team out of the gym?

[cd021]

They had the MLE. Still have enough to sign a number of players

I thought they used all of it on Beli and Cunningham. Must be an extremely cheap 3 year deal.

[cd98]

I like some of what I have seen. But barring some bad injuries, he's spending next year in the G-League. I think Walker has a chance to get a role for the Spurs next year, but it's likely he'll make a lot of trips to the G-League too.

I hear a lot of GMs are excited to draft high school players next year so they can send them to the G-League and get some buzz to boost attendance. I could see the Spurs using Walker and Metu for that as well.

[cd021]

Although he played C and PF in Summer League, I think his size is more compe ive at SF.

The young bench is indeed very intriguing:

White, Walker, Bertans, Metu, Poetl

Perhaps they can run the other team out of the gym?

He's a NBA 4 or 5; after re-watching highlights from college and summer league, it's surprising how thin he looks out on the floor. He does as solid array of post moves and seems like he already has decent midrange capabilities. I thought his passing looked pretty good and cam also affect shots at the rim.

He may never be big enough to be a full time 5 and him as a traditional 4 is a bit odd of a fit, unless he can become a stretch 4 that can also bully 6'8 dudes in the paint and on the glass.

[ceperez]

I like some of what I have seen. But barring some bad injuries, he's spending next year in the G-League. I think Walker has a chance to get a role for the Spurs next year, but it's likely he'll make a lot of trips to the G-League too.

I hear a lot of GMs are excited to draft high school players next year so they can send them to the G-League and get some buzz to boost attendance. I could see the Spurs using Walker and Metu for that as well.

I can see Metu getting more action than Walker. Spurs have bigger holes to fill in the front court.

Despite departure of Green, Ginobilli and Parker, the back court is still loaded: DeRozan, Murray, Mills, White, Forbes, Belinelli

Cunningham and Pondexter will have to play well enough to keep Metu out of the court.

[ceperez]

He's a NBA 4 or 5; after re-watching highlights from college and summer league, it's surprising how thin he looks out on the floor. He does as solid array of post moves and seems like he already has decent midrange capabilities. I thought his passing looked pretty good and cam also affect shots at the rim.

He may never be big enough to be a full time 5 and him as a traditional 4 is a bit odd of a fit, unless he can become a stretch 4 that can also bully 6'8 dudes in the paint and on the glass.

Them narrow shoulders are going to prevent Metu from gaining any real size. Perhaps the new NBA will allow a smallish sized PF.

[SAGirl]

Spurs used up their last roster spot for Metu. Not sure why people think their is a 15th spot. Poindexter was 14, and Metu is 15.Smart move to lock him up for 3, I would have like to have seen 4 years. This year is a redshirt year, to gain weight and improve his handle. He is a 3/4 as opposed to a 4/5. Watch out in 3 years with Metu, Walker and Murray
Blossomgame will get the two way deal. Nobody of any value is left, or he goes overseas. Gleague is a waste for him. Work on the ball handling and 3pt shot and he is a regular rotation player

I don’t assume Pondexter has a spot locked in. I may be incorrect but he got a partial guaranteed 1 year deal that is very reminiscent of Jimmer Freddette. Also, as they demonstrated with waiving Livio Jean Charles to sign Forbes 2 summers ago (and LJC was in a 2 year guaranteed deal), these players in small contracts can be beat by a training camp invitee. I remember Rasual Butler beating out Jimmer Fredette for example... I don’t assume Pondexter has the roster spot on lock.

[ceperez]

I don’t assume Pondexter has a spot locked in. I may be incorrect but he got a partial guaranteed 1 year deal that is very reminiscent of Jimmer Freddette. Also, as they demonstrated with waiving Livio Jean Charles to sign Forbes 2 summers ago (and LJC was in a 2 year guaranteed deal), these players in small contracts can be beat by a training camp invitee. I remember Rasual Butler beating out Jimmer Fredette for example... I don’t assume Pondexter has the roster spot on lock.

Its hard to predict if Pondexter has any mobility or athleticism left in his game. If he does, then he'll be in the team like Rasual Butler.

Butler played the entire season, but was waived prior to the playoffs. So I will not be surprised if Spurs hold 15 players throughout the regular season.

Nice for a #49th pick:

[ceperez]

Spurs really wanted Metu... scouted for two years:

https://twitter.com/MooreSports/stat...21132475305984

they hid their interest by NOT even inviting Metu to a predraft workout:

[davidbowie]

Saw him post a gif of a crying guy because he wanted to play with Manu but will never get a chance . Well now at least he'll get to play even if it's just garbage time

haha i saw this.

[TD 21]

At people thinking he can play "SF" or is automatically part of the future core because he's young.

I initially thought he was likely more so strictly a small ball "C", but after seeing him play some, I see some Siakam in him (better jumper, worse handle/play making), so he might be able to play some "PF".

He's got a chance to be an NBA player, maybe a rotational one, but every young player isn't a core piece and damn near everyone has fringe prospects. They're called that for a reason: most don't stick.

I thought they used all of it on Beli and Cunningham. Must be an extremely cheap 3 year deal.

Per Pincus, they used a portion of the BAE on Cunningham.

[cd021]

At people thinking he can play "SF" or is automatically part of the future core because he's young.

I initially thought he was likely more so strictly a small ball "C", but after seeing him play some, I see some Siakam in him (better jumper, worse handle/play making), so he might be able to play some "PF".

He's got a chance to be an NBA player, maybe a rotational one, but every young player isn't a core piece and damn near everyone has fringe prospects. They're called that for a reason: most don't stick.

Per Pincus, they used a portion of the BAE on Cunningham.

-I resisted the idea of him being a 4, but that is probably going to be his position if he were to make it in the NBA. He is on the small size for a C and extremely thin but he has some skill with the ball, pretty good passer, looks like he isn't far off from being consistent a mid-range shooter with potential of stretching out to 3.

-That makes much more sense, smart move tbh. Locking him up on a 3-year deal, probably for only around $3 million is a cheap gamble that could pay off.

According to Basketball Insiders, Spurs have $2.5 million left on the MLE and $900,000 on the BAE. If I am not mistaken; Spurs can put all of the MLE towards a buyout player, as opposed to a prorated vet min. contract, meaning that a player could make the full $2.5 million for only 3 months instead of around $1 million.

[TDomination]

i hope he gets decent playing time this year. i'm excited about his potential.

[cd021]

Them narrow shoulders are going to prevent Metu from gaining any real size. Perhaps the new NBA will allow a smallish sized PF.

Its something to wonder about with him, for sure.

[TD 21]

As an aside, he's lucky Vonleh, who the Spurs were interested in, choose the Knicks, or he'd have had to wait a season.

-I resisted the idea of him being a 4, but that is probably going to be his position if he were to make it in the NBA. He is on the small size for a C and extremely thin but he has some skill with the ball, pretty good passer, looks like he isn't far off from being consistent a mid-range shooter with potential of stretching out to 3.

-That makes much more sense, smart move tbh. Locking him up on a 3-year deal, probably for only around $3 million is a cheap gamble that could pay off.

According to Basketball Insiders, Spurs have $2.5 million left on the MLE and $900,000 on the BAE. If I am not mistaken; Spurs can put all of the MLE towards a buyout player, as opposed to a prorated vet min. contract, meaning that a player could make the full $2.5 million for only 3 months instead of around $1 million.

He's definitely at least primarily a small ball "C". If Bell, who's - 1.5 in height and .75 in length, while weighting roughly equal, can play it, there's no reason he can't.

Small ball being the operative words though. He'll never be equipped to defend behemoths who can do damage in the post.

[alpha_HaZE]

I am excited and I think earned it with his summer league play. I can't wait to see him in Spurs uniform.

[boutons_deux]

Thin?

check his musculature, even has good legs, is light on his feet, not a plodder like Tim or LMA.

rebounds, good height/timing to block shots, soft shooting touch, runs the court, court vision, passing, aggressive, quite fearless, confident.

hey, cd021, you

[daslicer]

Looking forward to saying "I support Metu."