San Antonio Spurs: Chimezie Metu agrees to three-year deal

Chimezie Metu agreed to a contract with the San Antonio Spurs that will run for three seasons, according to a report.

The San Antonio Spurs not only selected Lonnie Walker in the 2018 NBA Draft, but Chimezie Metu at No. 49 overall in the second round. A center from USC, Metu made his Spurs debut in the summer league, before a wrist cut this stint short.

With one month until the preseason, the Spurs had yet to sign Metu to a rookie contract. Though, on Thursday morning, that changed, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. It’s a three-year rookie deal which will go into the mid-level exception, as Hoops Rumors noted.

Sources: The San Antonio Spurs and second-round pick Chimezie Metu have agreed on a three-year rookie deal. Team is high on the former USC standout.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 30, 2018

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Pending the Spurs guaranteed the first year of Metu’s deal, he will move into competition for a roster spot in training camp. Davis Bertans, Jakob Poeltl and Dante Cunningham will supply the depth at power forward and center, so Metu does not have a clear-cut spot, but he could find minutes near the end of the bench.

Look for Quincy Pondexter to compete with Metu for a spot, as long as the Spurs bring other players in to battle. With Manu Ginobili‘s retirement, San Antonio had two spots to fill on its roster; they do not have to fill both, but look for at least one of Pondexter or Metu to make the opening night roster. Jaron Blossomgame, the team’s 2017 second-round pick, can also join the mix.

For Metu’s development, an extended G-League stint might benefit him to find a consistent role with 20-plus minutes per game. Sporadic NBA call-ups can be thrown in, but, as with Derrick White in 2017-18, Metu will garner experience.

With this contract, the Spurs handing out money might come to a halt, at least with the main roster. They have both two-way slots open, so look for that to become the next move taken care of.