Utah Jazz: Complete 2017 offseason grades

Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images
Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images /
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Photo by Luca Sgamellotti/EB via Getty Images
Photo by Luca Sgamellotti/EB via Getty Images /

Reaching overseas: Ekpe Udoh

On the same day they signed Jerebko and Sefolosha, the Jazz made a less predictable move in looking to the EuroLeague to acquire former NBA big man Ekpe Udoh. Once a lottery pick with the Golden State Warriors, Udoh flamed out of the NBA after four seasons.

However, he reinvented himself with a stint overseas, winning Final Four MVP with Fenerbahce Istanbul during a EuroLeague championship season. Specializing as the low-usage, defensively mobile center many teams in the modern NBA are coveting, he’ll translate NBA-level talents back immediately.

Watch for him to develop pick-and-roll chemistry with Ricky Rubio, who is also familiar with the European style of basketball.

Udoh’s signing may be a signal that the Jazz are planning on playing Derrick Favors at the 4 rather than the backup center spot. Retaining Jeff Withey could have been a less risky option if all the club was looking for was a third-string, stopgap center.

Being that he’s transitioning leagues, there’s a little more unknown regarding Udoh than with Jerebko or Sefolosha, but his contract (two years at $6 million total, with the second year nonguaranteed), alleviates most of the danger.

Grade: B