Timberwolves agree to one-year deal with Joe Ingles
A day after losing Kyle Anderson to Golden State, Minnesota agreed to terms with another veteran with playmaking chops to potentially take his place.
The Timberwolves and forward Joe Ingles have agreed to a one-year deal, a source confirmed to the Pioneer Press. ESPN first reported the deal.
Ingles — who will be 37 years old by the start of next season — is a smart veteran who’s capable of running an offense if needed and also knocks down the deep ball at a high clip.
The 6-foot-9 forward is a 41 percent 3-point shooter for his career on 4.2 attempts per game. He had a slightly diminished role last season in Orlando — with his minute load dipping to 17 per game — but he did shoot 44 percent from three for the Magic.
The second-unit playmaking will likely be something Wolves coach Chris Finch relies upon. It was one of the main reasons Finch adored Anderson. Ingles isn’t nearly the defender Anderson is, but he’s a far superior shooter, which was a much-have addition for Minnesota this offseason as opponents continue to bog down the paint against Anthony Edwards.
Ingles also comes with the benefit of significant experience with Minnesota’s existing veterans. He played with Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert for numerous years in Utah, joining them for multiple playoff runs. Ingles knows how to successfully utilize Gobert’s abilities to enhance the overall offense.
And while Rob Dillingham — who the team moved up to No. 8 in last month’s NBA Draft to select — is in the team’s immediate plans as a scoring punch off the bench, Ingles can potentially take some ballhandling and playmaking duties off the 19-year-old’s shoulders as he acclimates to the NBA.