2. Re-sign Joe Ingles
At the beginning of the season, Joe Ingles’ future in Utah seemed in doubt. With Alec Burks and Dante Exum both set to return from injuries, Slow-mo Joe looked like the first to be sent out of the rotation. However, it didn’t take long for Joe to cement a permanent place in the rotation on the back of some great team play, stingy defense and hot shooting.
It was a career changing season that put Ingles’ name in the conversation as one of the best ‘three and D’ and ‘glue guys’ in the NBA. He locked down a starting spot in the playoffs as a result of a barrage of injuries that hit Rodney Hood. He didn’t have the postseason he envisioned shooting the ball, but he sure played some great defense.
In Utah’s first round series with the LA Clippers, he completely nullified sharpshooter J.J. Redick in six of the seven games. He also managed to hold Klay Thompson to a somewhat mediocre series despite being swept by the Warriors, holding him to just 14 points per game.
Luckily for Jazz fans, Ingles voiced that he wanted to stay with the Jazz in an interview following Game 4 against Golden State.
"“Everyone knows that I want to come back. I couldn’t think of a better place [to play]. Hopefully it all works out and it’s a nice, quick process.” – Joe Ingles"
So there’s no question that Joe wants to play for the Jazz for years to come and the Jazz would love to have him along for the ride, but the contract and money he demands could possibly drive a wedge through that plan. Other teams that are trying to fill a hole in a playoff rotation or trying to get over the salary floor will likely throw Ingles huge money this offseason.
The Jazz’s front office is just hoping he’s reasonable with his price to stay a Jazzman. What he and his best pal, Gordon Hayward will hopefully come to terms with is that the less money they take, the more money Dennis Lindsey has to throw at players that can improve their roster. One thing that works into the favor of the Jazz is that he doesn’t want to play anywhere else. This means he is more likely to take less money in Utah than the same amount at another team.
Joe Ingles - "I'm pretty close to Gordon ... all the guys who are free this year would much rather stay" #JazzNation
— kristen kenney (@kristenkenney) May 9, 2017
It looks at this point there are only two scenarios where he would leave this organization; one, if the Jazz low-ball him and he receives a substantially greater offer from another playoff team, or if Hayward leaves and he has a chance to get on the same team.