San Antonio Spurs: Chimezie Metu’s chances of making the roster

The San Antonio Spurs have an open roster spot for the 2018-19 season and potentially two if Manu Ginobili retires. What are Chimezie Metu’s chances of being one part of the solution?

With the release of Brandon Paul on July 31, the San Antonio Spurs opened a roster spot on their 2018-19 squad. Though nearly one month later, it remains open and without any free agents to step into it, for now.

The Spurs have no shortage of in-house options to take the 15th and final roster spot, something that may develop in September’s training camp or never come to fruition until later in the season. One choice to be the last man is the 2018 second-round pick, Chimezie Metu.

Metu went at No. 49 overall in June’s draft; a center who spent three years at USC and averaged 12.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2 blocks per game. Solid numbers for a player that went in the back half of the second round.

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The Spurs already signed their first round pick, Lonnie Walker, to a contract in July, so that locked in his roster spot. Metu, though, does not have a deal in place.

Entering training camp, the Silver and Black own Metu’s rights, even if they do not sign him. However, if they bring him to this week-long session before preseason starts and he does not make the roster, San Antonio risks losing him to another organization.

To keep Metu through the 2018-19 season, the Spurs can have him sign a G League contract, identical to Jaron Blossomgame in 2017 and spent the year in Austin. Plus, given the way this organization handles its youth, they may treat Metu with a slow development and let him take steady playing time in the NBA’s “minors.”

With Blossomgame also as a candidate for the final roster spot, experience could go in his favor, rather than the raw Metu, who also shortened his summer league stint with an injured wrist.

Do not expect Metu to take the final roster spot, barring the Spurs’ potential desire to deepen their frontcourt depth behind the players in place. Look for 2019-20 as the opportunity to shine with this organization.