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As of 10:00pm Mountain Time, Ekpe Udoh’s contract became guaranteed for the 2018-2019 Utah Jazz season. Ekpe will become the last of many Utah Jazz players who have been retained for the 2018-2019 season joining fellow Utah Jazz free agents Derrick Favors, Dante Exum, and Raul Neto. This decision had been confirmed to Eric Woodward of the Deseret News yesterday.
Ekpe Udoh met with the Utah Jazz front office today. The team will guarantee his $3.4 million contract for next season, according to a source.
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) July 9, 2018
The only person not to have been retained by the Utah Jazz was Jonas Jerebko who unfortunately fell into a terrible situation of signing with the three time champion Golden State Warriors. One can only hope he can turn lemons into lemonade.
As for Ekpe Udoh, he was amazing in his time filling in for Rudy Gobert. Part of Utah’s ability not to sink completely to the NBA bottom while missing Rudy Gobert was the Jazz’s ability to have Ekpe Udoh fill in time at the five while Derrick Favors started in Rudy Gobert’s absence. Ekpe Udoh was a defensive monster averaging a 7.7% block percentage last season. Udoh functioned as Utah’s Defensive Player of the Year spare tire. Not designed to be a full replacement but can effectively get you to your destination without sacrificing the integrity of the vehicle.
The Utah Jazz will once again get to have unrivaled depth with rim protectors next season with Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, and newly guaranteed Ekpe Udoh. Even better, we will get to enjoy another season of Ekpe’s Book Club. Get hype.