6 Free Agents The Warriors Should Consider Signing
By Greg Chin
Jan 19, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives to the basket under pressure from Milwaukee Bucks forward
Ekpe Udoh(5) during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Ekpe Udoh
If we’re contemplating a return for The Bazed God, surely we must have room for Udoh too, right?
Udoh was once considered untouchable for the Warriors, but was surprisingly shipped out when the Warriors acquired Andrew Bogut. A few struggling seasons in Milwaukee later, and it might just be time for him to return to Golden State.
Udoh is an underrated defensive center. His averaged one block per game last season, but that was also due to a lack of playing time. He is a classic example of where stats and box scores fail to notice his contributions. He’s always been known as a rim protector with a high basketball IQ on the defensive end. His lateral quickness allows him to cover for teammates, and quickly recover back to his man. The Bucks have played Udoh sparingly, choosing instead to develop Larry Sanders.
Perhaps under the right coach and a rotation that allows for consistent minutes, Udoh could finally reach his potential as a lottery pick. Playing as Bogut’s big man would allow him to have around 20 minutes a game, with maybe 15-20 games as a starter. It’s the perfect time to buy low on Udoh’s stock, as he should be available for the veteran’s minimum, especially when there’s a lack of interest around him, and the Warriors being able to offer the comfort of familiarity to him.