Have we seen the last of Joe Ingles in a Utah Jazz jersey?
The Utah Jazz got decimated by the Minnesota Timberwolves by a final score of 126-106 yesterday. We wish that was the worst news we had to report.
Joe Ingles went down with a knee injury about halfway through the second quarter. It looked bad. The beloved Jazzmen could not put any pressure on his leg as he was helped off the floor. He’ll undergo an MRI today to assess the damage.
Ingles has been a fan favorite from the time he arrived in Salt Lake City. His brand of floor spacing, high IQ basketball and effortful defense has won over Utah Jazz fans season after season.
Even before last night’s unfortunate events, however, there was a chance that Ingles was due for a departure.
Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles in contract year
Ingles’ contract expires at the end of the 2021-22 season. That alone already gave Utah Jazz fans reason to wonder if the end of his tenure with the team was nearing. Given last night’s injury, it may have already come.
Granted, the Jazz may determine that Ingles is too critical to this team’s foundation to part with. He’s highly unlikely to command another $13 million per year pact on the open market. For all the value he brings to a team, he is aging, declining on defense, and wasn’t shooting with his typical elite accuracy anyway.
With that said, the Jazz may be looking towards other roster moves this offseason. Really, it depends on what happens in this year’s playoffs. One thing is nearly certain: Ingles won’t be a contributing factor to the team’s successes or failures this season.
Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles could become trade chip
It may be callous to say, but Ingles’ injury may open up some opportunities for the team to trade him.
Rebuilding squads who are interested in the Jazz’s young players or draft picks may be more inclined to take on a veteran they won’t actually have to work into their rotation. For example, the Houston Rockets may be more interested in matching his contract with Eric Gordon’s if they’re acquiring Udoka Azubuike and/or a draft pick.
Likewise, this makes for an easier scenario for the Jazz to trade for Robert Covington if the Trail Blazers remain interested in retooling with an eye towards next season.
It’s not a reality that everyone is comfortable with, but it is a reality: teams tank in the NBA. Joe Ingles is too quality of an NBA player to aid that cause. As a contract matcher, he becomes more attractive to rebuilding clubs.
Joe Ingles is a Utah Jazz legend
It feels tacky to even think about Ingles’ future with the club right now. With that in mind, we’ll take a quick moment to acknowledge his history.
Joe Ingles has been a staple of the Utah Jazz from the moment he joined. He’s an elite three-point shooter, a clever passer, a willing (if not always able) defender, and perhaps most importantly, a tough customer.
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It’s entirely possible that he’ll suit up for the Jazz again. If he doesn’t, the team’s fans will not forget him any time soon.