Chimezie Metu worked out with the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday. His size and athleticism could provide a replacement for Ed Davis or Jusuf Nurkic as both are free agents.
The Portland Trail Blazers have looked at 12 prospects over two days of pre-draft workouts. Although the team needs a 3-and-D forward the most, a majority of those 12 were defensive-minded combo guards.
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This interest in smaller players shows Portland’s preparation for losing its reserve guards to free agency. The Blazers have four free agents: two guards and two centers.
For that reason, a few forward/centers have participated in this weekend’s pre-draft workouts as well. Chimezie Metu of USC is one of those.
Chimezie Metu
College Career
Metu played three seasons at USC. As a freshman, he only saw 18.5 minutes of game time and averaged 6.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per.
His minutes jumped to 31.3 per game the following year. As a result, Metu’s averages increased to 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.
The big man stayed consistent as a junior, posting 15.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per contest.
Size
Metu measures in at 6’10” and 225 pounds – a very athletic frame. At the NBA Draft Combine, he recorded 29.5-inch standing vertical and 36-inch max vertical. His max vertical ranked best among the forward/centers at the combine, and his standing vertical ranked second.
Out of the entire combine field, he finished fifth for standing vertical reach (11’5.5″) and fourth in max vertical reach (12’0″).
Offense
Metu has a similar offensive game as Jusuf Nurkic – any shot inside the three-point line is fair game.
The USC big man can shoot midrange jumpers, although inconsistently. Still, defenders honor it and play him tight anywhere within the arc. Because of that, Metu often pump fakes a jumper and takes it to the rim. His length and quickness allow for uncontested layups or dunks over smaller defenders trying to help out.
He has a post game, but it’s fairly limited. Metu generally back his opponent down to the key-extended and attempts a hook shot. The shot is effective and consistent, but will be predictable and defended better in the NBA.
Unlike Nurkic, Metu puts himself in positions to score easy baskets off the pick-and-roll. He cuts to the basket after setting screens and uses his athleticism to finish over anyone playing help defense. He also plays the Clint Capela role, waiting for a potential alley-oop from the guard he screens for.
In his final season at USC, Metu averaged 15.7 points on 52% shooting. He converted over 50% of his shots in all three college campaigns.
Additionally, he improved his free throw shooting from 51% as a freshman to 73% as a junior.
Defense
As a lanky big man with a small player’s jumping ability, Chimezie Metu was an elite rim protector for USC.
He blocked at least 1.5 shots per game and recorded slightly under 1 steal per game in all three college seasons.
However, Metu has the Hassan Whiteside condition. He wants to block every shot in the paint, leaving his man open if the shot isn’t taken or for an offensive rebound. When going for these blocks, Metu sometimes gets carried away and commits unnecessary fouls too.
There are concerns that at 225 pounds, the USC big man will be bullied by most NBA-level centers. Many scouts believe he’ll need to bulk up in order to defend physical big men.
While that’s true, Capela is roughly the same weight and holds his own. His defense was crucial in the Western Conference Finals, keeping the Warriors out of the paint and blocking momentum-shifting dunks.
Fit with Blazers
Chimezie Metu is one of few big men the Blazers have expressed interest in. The team needs a 3-and-D wing, but depending on free agency, it may need either a reserve guard or center instead.
Portland’s frontcourt consists of Zach Collins, Meyers Leonard and whoever stays out of Ed Davis and Jusuf Nurkic. If either leave, Portland would definitely need to fill the void with a defensively capable big man.
Metu will need guidance similar to what Miami has given Whiteside on defense. He must learn to choose the right times for help defense and not go for every block.
The Blazers limited unnecessary fouls with Collins, who recorded more fouls than points through his first few games. Team staff shouldn’t have a problem mimicking what the Heat did for Metu.
Offensively, Metu can play a role like Capela does with Houston, but with a midrange jumper too. More post moves will come with experience – same goes for a more consistent midrange shot.
Running pick-and-rolls with Damian Lillard or CJ McCollum should give him plenty of easy basket opportunities too. Metu loves driving to the hoop, whether off a screen or pump fake.
Nurkic often floated around after setting a screen, but Metu’s knack for slicing to the hoop will develop the team’s pick-and-roll game immensely.
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In the end, Chimezie Metu becoming Portland’s solo draft pick comes down to how management expects free agency to go.
If management believes there’s a better chance they retain the big men over the guards, they’ll draft a guard. But if Nurkic or Davis want too much money, Metu could join Collins in a young, dynamic frontcourt.