Joe Ingles will bring one crucial skill to the Timberwolves
By Austin McGee
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Following a trade-heavy NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves have made their next move in free agency. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that ex-Orlando Magic forward Joe Ingles agreed to join Minnesota on a one-year pact.
This signing comes on the heels of losing reserve forward Kyle Anderson in a sign-and-trade to the Golden State Warriors. The Wolves also lost reserve guard Monte Morris to the Phoenix Suns just two days prior.
Free agent F Joe Ingles has agreed on a one-year deal to join the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN. Ingles reunites with his old Jazz teammates Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley Jr. pic.twitter.com/IcZUK2G4Qv
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2024
The Timberwolves signed Joe Ingles from Orlando
While Anderson brought forth secondary playmaking and stout defense, the Ingles acquisition adds much-needed shooting to the Timberwolves' reserve unit. The 36-year-old is a career 41.0 percent three-point shooter who knocked down 43.5 percent of his 2.4 attempts from deep a season ago.
Besides his shooting, Ingles is a connective passer and capable defender. The Aussie averaged 3.0 assists per game this past season—his lowest per-game total since his third season in the association.
Ingles had several seasons where he averaged more than 4.5 assists per game as a forward. Back then, the now 36-year-old sharpshooter teamed up with two current Wolves on the Utah Jazz—Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley.
The veteran forward has shared the hardwood with Conley for 135 games, and suited up next to Gobert for over 75 percent of his career appearances. Bringing in Ingles is certainly a chemistry booster due to his past relationships and team-first mentality.
What the numbers tell us with Joe Ingles is that he's a player who brings effective playmaking and efficient shooting on a low volume of usage. Very Mike Conley/Kyle Anderson in Chris Finch's sytem.
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) July 3, 2024
League leaders last season in assist rate-to-usage rate (minimum 1000 minutes)…
Ingles' sharp shooting will provide a lift
Ingles is, and has always been a highly efficient scorer. Last season, nearly half his field goal attempts were catch-and-shoot threes, where he held a 53.3 percent clip in such scenarios. The lefty marksman was also deadly when left open. Most of Ingles' field goals were classified as wide-open (no defender within six feet). On his wide-open attempts, he shot 54.7 percent from the field and 54.3 percent from beyond the arc.
The former Jazz wing is by no means a replica of Anderson, he's quite different. However, adding a player like Ingles to the Wolves' bench unit will pay dividends. Minnesota no longer needed Anderson's playmaking chops after drafting Kentucky's Rob Dillingham.
With Dillingham leading the reserves, Ingles is the perfect floor spacer to compliment the rest of the unit. He'll provide a veteran presence off the pine as well as connective passing between scoring forces such as Dillingham, Terrence Shannon Jr., and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid.
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