Shams: Ekpe Udoh to Utah | 2 years $6.5M

[slothrop8]

He was pretty close to unplayable his last stint in the NBA - he was an offensive liability and not a very good rebounder for his position at the NBA level, and was a fouling machine. He can see some limited minutes as a situational defender and shotblocker, but I wouldn't expect much of a contribution - spot minutes role player.

[flow]

They can care less about offense over there...

I guess the goal is to be the Greatest defense of all time though... Lock Down Defenders 9 out of 10 rotation players...

Only way anyone's gonna beat GS. Just sayin.

[stitches]

Here's a write-up by DX(Mike Schmitz) on the Euroleague Final 4(the Jazz were at the Final 4) and there is a part on Udoh:

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/what-did-we-learn-at-the-2017-euroleague-final-four-5954/

What Did We Learn at the 2017 Euroleague Final Four


Taking stock of what we learned at the 2017 Euroleague Final Four in Istanbul, especially as it pertains to modern basketball, the NBA, and by extension, the 2017 NBA Draft.

EKPE UDOH'S NBA FIT

Ekpe Udoh, the #6 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, switched, slid, stripped, contested, recovered, rotated and swatted Fenerbahce to a 2017 Euroleague Final Four title, the Turkish power's first in club history. Written off as a 'bust' relative to his lofty draft status and just-decent NBA production (10.8 PER in 274 games played over five seasons), the recently turned 30-year-old Udoh thoroughly dominated the Euroleague Final Four with his stout, versatile defense, putting the clamps on Greek legend and three time Euroleague Final Four MVP Vassilis Spanoulis, one game after neutralizing incumbent Euroleague MVP Sergio Llull (the 34th overall pick in 2009).

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Thanks to his excellent feet, massive 7' 4.5 wingspan, sharp timing and overall defensive range, Udoh killed nearly every ball screen with his 'switchability', stalling Olympiacos' offense. His dominant defensive performance (seven blocks in 75 Euroleague Final Four minutes) begs the question - why didn't Udoh stick in the NBA? The former Michigan big turned Baylor transfer certainly could have done more to maximize his opportunities at the NBA level, but the league had yet to evolve into what it is today. At 6-10, Udoh was 'undersized' for a center, and didn't quite have the skill set to fit as a four man, evident by his porous 8.9 points per 40 minutes on 44% shooting as a rookie in Golden State. With post touches more prevalent, Udoh didn't exactly fit on either end - undersized as a defender on the block, and raw as an interior scorer. His toughness was also questioned, and his lack of defensive rebounding was worrisome in a league that played bigger, and wasn't nearly as switch-heavy as it is today. But since his underwhelming seasons with the Warriors (2010-12), Bucks (2012-14) and Clippers (2014-15), the NBA has trended back in Udoh's direction. He's without question a five in today's NBA, and his perimeter defense and shot blocking instincts are as valuable as ever. Spanoulis, who shot 2-for-12 from the field largely due to Udoh's stifling perimeter defense, definitely isn't Steph Curry, Chris Paul or Kyrie Irving, but Udoh fits a prototype that all teams are looking for, and would most definitely be a defensive asset on virtually any NBA team today. More than anything, Udoh's Euroleague Final Four dominance emphasized the importance of having a big who can switch ball screens when involved in pick and roll, and put a lid on the rim when he's in help position. His much-improved passing is certainly an added bonus (3.0 assists per 40 minutes this past season), but it's his ability to switch, guard either big spot, and protect the rim that make him an attractive option for a team looking to bring him back over, although after his now-legendary weekend in Istanbul, he likely wouldn't come on the cheap.

THE STYLES OF NBA CENTER

In a point guard, wing-heavy era, the NBA is seemingly employing three styles of centers: The Switch-Heavy Rim Protectors: Bigs like Udoh and Birch who can switch everything and protect the rim when not involved in the primary action. These bigs are generally vertical spacers as well. To varying degrees (some are more switch than anchor and vice versa) this is the Cauley-Steins, Nerlens Noels, Goberts, DeAndre Jordans, and Biyombos of the league.

[og15]

I remember when he was a Clipper three years ago and basically didn't play at all, why, I don't know

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[Chi]

They can care less about offense over there...

I guess the goal is to be the Greatest defense of all time though... Lock Down Defenders 9 out of 10 rotation players...

2004 Pistons done it, why not give it a go? They're never gonna be a "sexy" free-agent destination for the cream of the offensive crop, so do what you have to do, I guess. If "boring basketball" gives you a shot at competing, you go boring, no questions asked...

No, I get the plan and I get why. But if it were me, and I had an elite D like them. I'd try to get at least a decent offensive player or two.

Why go into the season with Rodney Hood being your best, and just about only offensive player?

I'm not saying they should sign some superstar scorer, I'm saying a player or 2 who can help put the ball in the whole while everyone else is locking down. Jamal Crawford, Illyasova, Speights, Pau, maybe even that scrub Derrick Rose...

They're in perfect position to excel with 1 of those "chucker" type players that no one wants on their team because they don't play D...

Somebody who can help put the ball in the basket so you won't have to get all of your wins 65-60...

[PerkinsFor3]

Also, this is probaqbly the Jazz gearing up for a Favors trade soon.

[Mylie10]

What kind of suit did he where for the signing?

Inside warrior fan joke

[stitches]

Also, this is probaqbly the Jazz gearing up for a Favors trade soon.

I'm not saying Favors trade won't happen, but why would getting Udoh be us gearing up for Favors being out? Udoh is going to be backup 5 for us. Favors is our starting 4(unless we trade him for something else)

[PerkinsFor3]

Bringing in more defensive minded players with Thabo, Udoh and Jerebko. Jazz talking a lot about looking for more scoring, maybe even a primary scoring option, does not align with these moves.

[skones]

This is an absolute BARGAIN.

[Warriorfan]

Utah is adding some bigs and defense at good value I sense Favors and or Diaw is going to be shipped out for a wing.

[FNQ]

Great deal here. He's always been a good help defender, but he worked on his offensive abilities in Europe. Still a lousy rebounder but hey, at that price, it's still a steal. Great backup for Gobert.

[Nolan]

Great signing for the Jazz. The league is far more suited to his style of play than it was before he went overseas.

[dautjazz]

Also, this is probaqbly the Jazz gearing up for a Favors trade soon.

LMAO, no. We just are losing Diaw and lost Lyles already. Looks like we aren't getting Whitney back either.

This is what our front court was looking like before the recent signings:

Gobert
Favors/JJ/Bolomboy (g-league material)/T.Bradley (rookie/probably will be in g-league)

We obviously needed more bigs, especially another center as it's basically our starting PF playing backup center. I'm not sure how good Udoh is but I guess he can atleast we have a back up center now, and Jerebko can play somewhere between 2nd and 3rd string PF for us.

[dautjazz]

Bringing in more defensive minded players with Thabo, Udoh and Jerebko. Jazz talking a lot about looking for more scoring, maybe even a primary scoring option, does not align with these moves.

Well we got some scorers:

Gobert: 18+ ppg (just look at his splits, plus they got Rubio who can lob the ball to Gobert all day)
Favors: 16+ ppg (if healthy)
Hood: 18+ ppg (if healthy)
Mitchell: 10-15 ppg (prediction based on 24-30mpg)
Exum: 10+ ppg
Rubio: 10+ ppg

If they get enough minutes:
Burks: 10+ ppg
JJ: 10+ ppg

Obviously we wont have 8 guys scoring 10+ ppg, but we did have 6 guys scoring 9+ ppg. Since we are going to lose a 21ppg and 17ppg guy, I expect to have a lot of guys step up and provide 10-15ppg range, and I expect atleast 5 players to average over 10ppg, and atleast 3 of those over 15ppg.

We are more of a system player than feeding one guy or ISO plays, so we get scoring across the board. We don't score a lot (28th in the NBA last season), yet we were 12th in offensive rating last season. so we are efficient with each possession, but naturally we get fewer than most teams because we hold the possession to the end of the clock. I rather all our players atleast put some effort on defense than to have a ton of superstars on offense than don't play a lick of defense. I have a hard time not seeing our team as the best defensive team in the NBA.

[RightToCensor]

I wanted Udoh in Houston. Dang it.

[PerkinsFor3]

Bringing in more defensive minded players with Thabo, Udoh and Jerebko. Jazz talking a lot about looking for more scoring, maybe even a primary scoring option, does not align with these moves.

Well we got some scorers:

Gobert: 18+ ppg (just look at his splits, plus they got Rubio who can lob the ball to Gobert all day)
Favors: 16+ ppg (if healthy)
Hood: 18+ ppg (if healthy)
Mitchell: 10-15 ppg (prediction based on 24-30mpg)
Exum: 10+ ppg
Rubio: 10+ ppg

If they get enough minutes:
Burks: 10+ ppg
JJ: 10+ ppg

Obviously we wont have 8 guys scoring 10+ ppg, but we did have 6 guys scoring 9+ ppg. Since we are going to lose a 21ppg and 17ppg guy, I expect to have a lot of guys step up and provide 10-15ppg range, and I expect atleast 5 players to average over 10ppg, and atleast 3 of those over 15ppg.

We are more of a system player than feeding one guy or ISO plays, so we get scoring across the board. We don't score a lot (28th in the NBA last season), yet we were 12th in offensive rating last season. so we are efficient with each possession, but naturally we get fewer than most teams because we hold the possession to the end of the clock. I rather all our players atleast put some effort on defense than to have a ton of superstars on offense than don't play a lick of defense. I have a hard time not seeing our team as the best defensive team in the NBA.

Wasnt me who said the Jazz were looking for scorers.

[PerkinsFor3]

Also, this is probaqbly the Jazz gearing up for a Favors trade soon.

LMAO, no. We just are losing Diaw and lost Lyles already. Looks like we aren't getting Whitney back either.

This is what our front court was looking like before the recent signings:

Gobert
Favors/JJ/Bolomboy (g-league material)/T.Bradley (rookie/probably will be in g-league)

We obviously needed more bigs, especially another center as it's basically our starting PF playing backup center. I'm not sure how good Udoh is but I guess he can atleast we have a back up center now, and Jerebko can play somewhere between 2nd and 3rd string PF for us.

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[dautjazz]

Also, this is probaqbly the Jazz gearing up for a Favors trade soon.

LMAO, no. We just are losing Diaw and lost Lyles already. Looks like we aren't getting Whitney back either.

This is what our front court was looking like before the recent signings:

Gobert
Favors/JJ/Bolomboy (g-league material)/T.Bradley (rookie/probably will be in g-league)

We obviously needed more bigs, especially another center as it's basically our starting PF playing backup center. I'm not sure how good Udoh is but I guess he can atleast we have a back up center now, and Jerebko can play somewhere between 2nd and 3rd string PF for us.

I mean I don't mind if it makes us better, but if we aren't confident in Favors ability to bounce back, then who will be. I know the Jazz have been trying to move Diaw who has a team option, but that's definitely not a major move.

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[PerkinsFor3]

Most def not a big move:

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