Sacramento Kings Exercise Option On Chimezie Metu For 2022-23 Season

The Sacramento Kings have guaranteed Chimezie Metu’s $1.9 million contract for the 2022-23 season,  Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The Sacramento Kings are exercising the option on PF/C Chimezie Metu for the 2022-2023 season, sources tell ESPN. Metu averaged 8.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in 21 minutes a game for the Kings last season.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

New Kings head coach Mike Brown has ties to the 25-year-old from their time with the Nigerian men’s basketball team. The 6’9 forward enjoyed a career year in 2021-22, starting in a career-high 20 games under former head coach Luke Walton and interim head coach Alvin Gentry.

Chimezie Metu’s 2021-22 season

• 60 games
• 8.9 PTS
• 5.6 REB
• 1.0 AST
• 0.9 STL
• 0.5 BLK
• 45% FG
• 30% 3PT
• 78% FT
• 21.3 MIN

(Bold/italic font = career-high)

By Role

• Starter (20 games): 10.2 PTS, 6.9 REB, 1.3 AST, 42% FG, 22% 3PT, 25.9 MIN
• Reserve (40 games): 8.3 PTS, 4.9 REB, 0.9 AST, 47% FG, 36% 3PT, 19.0 MIN

By Minutes

• 30+ minutes (7 games): 14.0 PTS, 8.9 REB, 1.4 AST, 49% FG, 16% 3PT, 33.5 MIN
• 20-29 minutes (30 games): 9.8 PTS, 6.3 REB, 1.1 AST, 44% FG, 32% 3PT, 23.5 MIN
• 0-19 minutes (23 games): 6.1 PTS, 3.6 REB, 0.6 AST, 44% FG, 32% 3PT, 14.3 MIN

From an eye test, Metu seemed to be a more efficient player when used in that 20-29 minute range off of the bench.

At his best, Metu is a lengthy wing that possesses the ability to rebound at an above-average clip (9.4 rebounds per 36 minutes) and act as a bucket-getter that won’t shy away from firing off open-to-moderately open looks.

Metu’s points of interest on his shot-chart:

• 38% from the right-corner three this season (Hello, Mavs buzzer-beater)
• 49% from three-to-10 feet away from the basket
• 71% at the rim

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