Forward Joe Ingles has agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to Michael Scotto of Hoopshype, via agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports.
Ingles averaged 7.2 points per game and 3.5 assists in 45 games with Utah during the 2021-22 season.
SB Nation’s Mitchell Maurer had some nice things to report about the 34-year-old Australian forward:
“Let’s get the good stuff out of the way: Joe Ingles is a proven vet who is tough-as-nails and an asset on the floor, despite being a poor athlete (by NBA standards). He shoots 40.8% on threes over his 8-year career, and at 6’8” he at least has the size to serve at either forward spot. Additionally, he’s an outspoken advocate for autism awareness, and while he’s a beloved teammate Ingles has also earned a reputation as one of the NBA’s premier trash talkers. Per Michael Scotto, Ingles’ contract is for one year and takes up the majority of the taxpayer midlevel exception, meaning that Ingles is the free agent addition of this offseason for general manager Jon Horst.”
But … there’s always a but, isn’t there? And in this case it’s a Rick Mahorn-sized but.
The but is: Ingles turns 35 in October. Not only that, he tore his ACL in January of this year. But even with that downside, Maurer still likes the deal.
“All in all, Joe Ingles is the kind of guy you want on your team and if he can play, he can help you on offense. Given how Milwaukee’s season ended last year, that’s the sort of reinforcement that could be helpful…as long as Ingles can get his physical abilities back to where they need to be.”
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