The Utah Jazz acquired former lottery pick center Ekpe Udoh for two years and $6.5 million.
SALT LAKE CITY–We already knew the NBA offseason was a whirlwind, but apparently the Utah Jazz just don’t need sleep. In the early hours of Thursday morning, the team acquired former lottery pick center Ekpe Udoh for two years and $6.5 million.
Udoh, 30, is a shot-blocking 6’10 center that was originally picked 6th by the Golden State Warriors in the 2010 draft out of Baylor. He averaged just 4.6 points and 3.4 rebounds with 1.6 blocks with the Warriors before being traded to Milwaukee. He continued to slump with the Bucks, and spent a lackluster season in LA with the Clippers before heading to Turkey.
But with the club Fenerbahce Istanbul, Udoh’s career gained momentum. In two seasons, he averaged 12.2 ppg, 6.5 rbg, and 2.2 bpg. The squad appeared in the Euroleague Final Four for just its second time in Udoh’s first season, and won the championship this past year.
Udoh can give Rudy Gobert some resting minutes while maintaining a rim-protecting element on the defensive end for the Jazz. He would essentially replace the production of Jeff Withey, who it now appears the Jazz are willing to part with.
Udoh is the third acquisition for Utah in 24 hours, after picking up Thabo Sefolosha Wednesday morning and Jonas Jerebko in the evening.
