Two unrestricted vets
The summer that Gordon Hayward departed Utah, the Jazz were forced to pivot quickly and essentially sign anybody that they could. In so doing, they found themselves with Thabo Sefolosha and Ekpe Udoh. Both were signed to flexible contracts that gave the Jazz plenty of options with them. Last season, both those team options were picked up. Now, both are set to come off the books to give the Jazz flexibility and each is facing unrestricted free agency.
And while both have played a role the past two seasons as savvy vets, solid backups and helpful mentors, neither is anywhere close to vital. Not only that, but even if Utah wanted to keep them, as unrestricted free agents the choice is completely in their own hands.
Sefolosha already made it clear that he will keep his options open. Ekpe Udoh likely already knows he’s aiming for a new destination.
In short, if the Jazz plan to make upgrades, the roster spots of Sefolosha and Udoh seem all but guaranteed to be among the first to open up. Neither was all that impactful come playoff time, nor are they pushing the needle for the Jazz to compete with the best of the best. Factor in that they’re also unrestricted, and I don’t see much of a realistic chance at all that either remains on the Jazz roster in 2019-20.
Verdict: Likely both gone