2018 second-round draft pick Chimezie Metu surprised many by earning a three-year contract with the Spurs prior to training camp, making him the first second-round pick to immediately sign with them since DeJuan Blair in 2009. Obviously, the Spurs saw enough future potential that they didn’t want to risk losing him to make the somewhat unprecedented move (for them).
While the goal was likely for him to spend the majority of this season developing in Austin, he has ended up spending most of his time in San Antonio largely due to the onslaught of injuries, especially to Pau Gasol (who Pop still expects will out for “a while” despite recently returning to light on-court activities).