Utah Jazz: Complete 2017 offseason grades
By Adam Coffman
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