Former EuroLeague Champion Signs Deal to Remain with Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves were once again trying to reach their first NBA Finals in franchise history this past season. However, the T-Wolves would be eliminated in five games by the Oklahoma City Thunder. This leaves questions about what this Minnesota team will do this upcoming off-season. While they have two veterans over the age of 35, 37-year-old Mike Conley has another year left on his contract, and 37-year-old forward Joe Ingles will hit free agency. Ingles, a former EuroLeague champion, has had an interesting career and hopes to capture an NBA Championship before his career is all said and done. It’s been announced today by Shams Charania that the South Australian forward signed a one-year, $3.6 million deal with the Timberwolves.
Ingles began his career playing for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2014 Preseason. He was acquired by the Jazz on October 27th, 2014. The EuroLeague champion debuted against the Houston Rockets, only recording a missed three-pointer, yet in the next game against the Dallas Mavericks, Ingles scored his first NBA basket. Around March, he began starting and soon began developing into a quality starting player. By the 2018-2019 season, the South Australian forward was averaging 12 points, four rebounds, six assists, and a steal in 31 minutes a game. During his eight seasons in Utah, Ingles was a key factor in helping the Jazz make the playoffs in five of those eight seasons. In three of those seasons, the Jazz made it to the Western Conference Semifinals, but could never advance as they were thwarted by the Warriors, Rockets, and Clippers. In February 2022, the 37-year-old forward was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, yet, due to an injury, Ingles never played a game with Portland. In the 2022 off-season, he signed a one-year deal with the Bucks. The following season, the former EuroLeague Champion inked a two-year deal with the Orlando Magic. This past season, he signed a one-year, three-million-dollar deal with the Timberwolves.
This past season, Ingles played 19 games with the T-Wolves. He only had one start and averaged just six minutes a game. It was easily the 37-year-old forward’s worst statistical season as he averaged one point, a rebound, and an assist. His best performance this season was on February 12th, where he put up three points, four rebounds, and four assists in a 103-101 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. This season, even though he’s getting up there in age, the Timberwolves hope Ingles can get back to his old form.
