The J-Notes
Fansided

Grading each Utah Jazz offseason decision thus far

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 27: Donovan Mitchell #45 and Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz react after game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 27: Donovan Mitchell #45 and Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz react after game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Utah Jazz Ekpe Udoh
SACRAMENTO, CA – JANUARY 17: Ekpe Udoh #33 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on January 17, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Retaining Ekpe Udoh

The last bit of offseason news regarding the Utah Jazz was that the team would indeed be guaranteeing the second year of Ekpe Udoh‘s contract. Udoh didn’t play a huge role for the Jazz last season, especially down the stretch, but he was vital for the Jazz when Rudy Gobert went down with injury.

Udoh isn’t moving the needle dramatically for his team, but the Jazz defense thrives on having a constant rim protector on the floor, so in that regard, Ekpe is the ideal insurance policy. Not only that, but at just over $3 million per year, he’s an incredible steal that can serve as an ideal stopgap at the center position when needed.

Keeping him wasn’t a flashy move by any means, but considering the lack of promising centers on the free agent market and the fact that with Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors in the frontcourt, it’s one of the strongest positions on the Jazz roster, keeping Udoh in his role was about the best decision Utah could have made in that regard.

Grade – A

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Time will tell if Jazz brass has more up their sleeves between now and when the 2018-19 season gets underway. The Jazz haven’t rocked the boat much this offseason, but they’ve still made savvy moves that should have Utah Jazz fans feeling excited about what lies ahead in the upcoming campaign.

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