The Pistons declined Metu's team option Saturday, Michael Scotto of USA Today reports.
The option was worth $2.65 million, but the Pistons are opting to go in a different direction. Metu made 14 appearances for the Pistons in 2023-24, averaging 10.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.9 three-pointers in 29.4 minutes per game.
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Pistons' Chimezie Metu: Perfect from field Saturday
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Metu ended Saturday's 113-103 loss to the Nets with 20 points (9-9 FG, 2-2 3Pt), seven rebounds, three assists and three steals in 43 minutes.
Metu took advantage of the fact the Pistons had a depleted frontcourt and made the most of this spot start, not missing a single shot from the field and rounding out his stat line with solid contributions in other categories. Metu has started just eight times this season, but he might have done enough in this one to remain in the first unit when the Pistons take on the 76ers on Tuesday.
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Pistons' Chimezie Metu: Starting Saturday
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Metu will start Saturday's game against the Nets.
The Pistons are very shorthanded for Saturday, so both Metu and James Wiseman could see a lot of minutes. In nine appearances with Detroit, Metu holds averages of 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.8 blocks.
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Pistons' Chimezie Metu: Five steals against Atlanta
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Metu accumulated nine points (4-9 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 1-1 FT), five rebounds, three assists, one block and five steals in 28 minutes off the bench during Wednesday's 121-113 loss to Atlanta.
The 27-year-old big continues to provide the Pistons with a strong defensive presence in the paint. Since taking on a regular role in the frontcourt rotation March 20, Metu has averaged 9.0 points, 5.0 boards, 2.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.9 blocks in 26.4 minutes over the last eight games, starting two of them. He's recorded at least one block in six straight contests, while Wednesday's five steals were a career high.
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Pistons' Chimezie Metu: Scores 17 off bench Monday
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Metu contributed 17 points (6-10 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 4-4 FT), eight rebounds and two blocks over 28 minutes during Monday's 110-108 loss to Memphis.
Metu's performance Monday was the second time since March 20 that he scored in double digits. After completing a 10-day contract with the Pistons, the team signed Metu for the rest of the regular season. With Detroit, he's averaging 9.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals over 26.1 minutes per game.
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Pistons' Chimezie Metu: Inks deal with Detroit
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The Pistons signed Metu to a one-year contract that includes a team option for 2024-25, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
Metu will stay with Detroit for the remainder of the season after completing a 10-day contract with the team. Over his six appearances, including two starts, Metu is averaging 7.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals in 25.8 minutes. The 26-year-old forward should continue to be featured in the Detroit rotation down the stretch.
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Pistons' Chimezie Metu: Back to bench
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Metu won't start Friday's game against the Wizards, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Metu drew another start Wednesday in Minnesota and posted eight points, seven rebounds, two steals and a block in 32 minutes. However, he'll head to the bench to make room for Troy Brown on Friday. Over his last five appearances (two starts), Metu has averaged 8.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 25.8 minutes per game.
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Pistons' Chimezie Metu: Decent in spot start
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Metu totaled eight points (3-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 1-1 FT), seven rebounds, two assists, one block and two steals over 32 minutes during Wednesday's 106-91 loss to the Timberwolves.
Metu looked rough around the edges in the early stages of the game, and while he settled down as the game progressed, he wasn't much of a scoring threat. His contributions in peripheral categories were decent enough to salvage his fantasy output, but it would be surprising if Metu remains in the starting lineup when the Pistons take on the Wizards on Friday.
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Pistons' Chimezie Metu: Starting vs. Minnesota
Rotowire
Metu is in the starting lineup to face the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Metu has been playing off the bench most of the season, but he'll get another chance to start Wednesday and will pair with Jalen Duren in the frontcourt. Metu is averaging 11.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game across six starts this season.
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Pistons' Chimezie Metu: Balanced outing in starting lineup
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Metu posted 17 points (5-8 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 7-8 FT), eight rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal over 39 minutes during Sunday's 114-101 loss to the Pelicans.
Metu got his first start Sunday after coming off the bench the last two games since signing a 10-day contract with Detroit, posting a team-high-tying point total while ending two rebounds shy of a double-double in a balanced outing. Metu posted his second-highest point total of the 2023-24 campaign, recording at least 17 points and eight rebounds in two outings.
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Pistons' Chimezie Metu: Enters starting lineup
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Metu is starting Sunday's game against the Pelicans, Keith Langlois of the Pistons' official site reports.
Metu joined the Pistons on a 10-day contract Wednesday and will now draw his first start with Detroit after appearing twice off the bench Wednesday and Friday. Tosan Evbuomwan will retreat to a bench role as a result of this lineup change.
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Chimezie Metu: Cut by Memphis
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Metu will be waived by the Grizzlies on Friday, Michael Scotto of USA Today reports.
The Suns traded Metu to the Grizzlies on Thursday, but Memphis has other ideas for its frontcourt. Metu will likely generate a lot of interest on the open market. With the Suns, Metu averaged 5.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 12.1 minutes while hitting 50.8 percent from the field.
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Grizzlies' Chimezie Metu: Dealt to Memphis
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The Grizzlies acquired Metu and Yuta Watanabe from the Suns on Thursday in a three-team deal involving the Suns and Nets that sent Keita Bates-Diop and Jordan Goodwin to Brooklyn and David Roddy Royce O'Neale to Phoenix, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.
Metu has seen inconsistent playing time for the Suns this season, averaging 5.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 12.1 minutes across 37 appearances, including five starts. However, the 26-year-old big man will likely receive increased playing time for a Memphis team that has been ravaged by injuries.
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Suns' Chimezie Metu: Coming off bench Sunday
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Metu isn't starting Sunday against the Grizzlies.
With Kevin Durant sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Metu started the last three games. Metu averaged 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 19.3 minutes per game during those starts but will come off the bench Sunday, as Durant has been cleared to return. However, with Durant on a minute restriction, Metu could see a few more minutes than usual.
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Suns' Chimezie Metu: Plays well in spot start
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Metu finished with 14 points (4-8 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 4-4 FT), five rebounds, one assist and one steal in 26 minutes during Monday's 109-88 win over the Trail Blazers.
Metu drew the spot start with Kevin Durant (hamstring) sidelined, although it was believed to be a maintenance day. Metu has fared well in three fill-in starts this campaign, averaging 12.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.3 three-pointers. With Durant expected back Wednesday versus Dallas, Metu will likely move back to the bench.
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Suns' Chimezie Metu: Draws start Monday
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Metu will start in place of Kevin Durant (hamstring) on Monday against Portland, Kellan Olson of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Metu has averaged 11.0 points and 4.5 rebounds across 22.5 minutes in two starts this season, but he boomed for a 23-point, 19-rebound double-double in a season-high 34 minutes off the bench on Christmas. The 26-year-old has streaming appeal against a Portland frontcourt lacking Deandre Ayton (knee) and likely Duop Reath (back).
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Suns' Chimezie Metu: Monster effort off bench
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Metu finished Monday's 128-114 loss to the Mavericks with 23 points (9-18 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 19 rebounds, two assists and one steal across 34 minutes.
Metu turned in arguably the best performances of his career and made a strong case for more minutes, delivering a massive double-double in the Christmas Day loss. He shattered his previous season-high marks in both points and rebounds, and while this type of big outing is sure to bring more attention to Metu, fantasy managers outside of deeper leagues shouldn't rush to add him off waiver wires. Top center Jusuf Nurkic (personal) missed his second game in a row Monday, and Drew Eubanks still picked up the start before Metu replaced him on the top unit to begin the second half. Metu could end up sticking as the top backup over Eubanks once Nurkic is back, but even if Eubanks doesn't fall out of the rotation, Metu should still be in good shape to hold down the top backup role at power forward.
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Suns' Chimezie Metu: Gets starting nod
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Metu is in the starting five for Tuesday's game versus the Warriors.
Metu will replace Keita Bates-Diop in the starting lineup Tuesday, with Kevin Durant (ankle) out. Metu will make his first start of the season after logging 23 minutes in Phoenix's previous contest.
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Suns' Chimezie Metu: Logs two blocks in victory
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Metu chipped in four points (2-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt), two rebounds and two blocks in 12 minutes during Wednesday's 123-115 victory over the Warriors.
Metu played double-digit minutes for the first time this season and didn't have stellar offensive production, but he recorded two blocks in the comfortable win. However, he's unlikely to see a significant role for the Suns moving forward.
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Suns' Chimezie Metu: Back to bench
Rotowire
Metu will return to the bench for Thursday's preseason game against the Blazers.
The Suns are throwing Kevin Durant back out there after giving him a rest on Tuesday. Metu has had a solid preseason so far with averages of 11.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 2.0 three-pointers through two games.
