Philadelphia 76ers: Is Ekpe Udoh A Viable Backup?
After a successful stint overseas, is former lottery pick Ekpe Udoh a viable backup option for the Philadelphia 76ers‘ frontcourt?
This is a Philadelphia 76ers team experiencing a shift in not only philosophy, but needs. After years of process-driven rebuilding, the team is finally primed to take that next step as a competitive unit. With Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons both heading into next season healthy (barring any unforeseen setbacks), the team already has the basis for a playoff run in place.
Philadelphia 76ers
That also means they need to accumulate the right talent to fill out the remainder of the rotation, meaning free agency — for the first time in several years — could play a significant role in determining the direction of this team. Rather than betting on young, unheralded prospects in a battle for NBA relevancy, Bryan Colangelo has the luxury of providing a legitimate destination for veteran players.
One name who could be in play is Ekpe Udoh.
Ekpe Udoh History
Udoh’s story is a familiar one. After being drafted sixth by the Warriors in 2010, the former Baylor standout fizzled out rather quickly. He never averaged more than 5.7 points per game over the course of his first five years in the league, while his minutes total never exceeded 21.8 per contest. He eventually went on to play two seasons overseas, where his fortunes have changed rather significantly with Fenerbache Ulker Istanbul in Turkey.
The 30-year-old has proven to be one of the Euroleague’s most productive two-way bigs, averaging 1.8 blocks per contest while executing in a high capacity as one of the team’s more reliable offensive options. While he’s still not a featured player in that respect, he does contribute at a high level in the pick-and-roll — a valuable niche for any rotational big in the NBA.
Euroleague
Udoh was an All-Euroleague first teamer this season, while he earned All-Star honors during the 2016 campaign. His team also reached the Euroleague Final Four last season before winning it this season — a championship for which Udoh was named tournament MVP.
A hard worker with tremendous hustle on both ends of the floor, Udoh still has a role in today’s NBA. While he’s far from a prime starter, his fundamentally-sound approach on offense is enough to sustain relevance alongside his output defensively. He’d be a plus defender who grinds on the boards, using his strong frame and impressive length (6-10 with a 7-5 wingspan) to carve out space around the rim.
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This is a Sixers team that, in many respects, lacks frontcourt depth — a stark contrast to their rotational needs early last year. In lieu of the Nerlens Noel trade, injuries yielded immense struggles in maintaining proper production up front. Outside of Embiid, Richaun Holmes is the only reliable option at the five spot — and even he may be too expensive to retain long term.
Okafor Alternative?
Jahlil Okafor has quickly worked his way out of favor in the rotation, while Shawn Long never established himself as a surefire option moving forward. With the team looking to take significant strides come next season, Colangelo is likely to delve into Philadelphia’s newfound appeal to veterans in the open market — and a player like Udoh, whose NBA stock may be gaining steam — is a prime option.
He’d give Brett Brown a stable fall back option on the defensive end, while his rebounding could help the team keep pace when Embiid and Holmes aren’t on the floor. He’s the reliable third option they’ve been missing at the five spot, and the inevitably affordable nature of his contract could make such an endeavor worthwhile.
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After struggling to gain his footing in a league that has since changed, Udoh’s hustle-oriented game could find new life in a pace-and-space league that stresses proper defense around the rim. He’s somebody who could be motivated to reassert himself as an NBA talent — and the Sixers should consider jumping on the opportunity to foster his return.