With Joe Ingles set to join the Timberwolves in free agency, the Magic are losing a veteran presence in the locker room and a sharp playmaker on the court.
It also means Orlando still has one remaining standard contract roster spot left to fill in free agency.
The 10-year NBA vet on Wednesday agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million deal with Minnesota, according to ESPN.
Over the weekend, the Magic declined Ingles’ club option for the second year of his $22 million deal he signed last summer to join Jamahl Mosley‘s squad. The decision to not pick up the $11 million option made Ingles an unrestricted free agent.
The Sentinel had reported Orlando and Ingles were expected to continue discussions in free agency this week. A deal between him and Minnesota, however, had been talked about for a few days before the sides reached an agreement Wednesday, ESPN reported.
By joining the No. 3 team in the West that reached the conference finals this season, Ingles reunites with former Jazz teammates Mike Conley Jr. and Rudy Gobert, the latter of whom was named the Defensive Player of the Year for the fourth time in his career.
Minnesota was in need of an addition such as Ingles after the Timberwolves executed a sign-and-trade with the Warriors to send free agent forward Kyle Anderson, 30, to Golden State on Tuesday.
Ingles, 36, brought perspective and much-needed experience to an otherwise young Magic squad while helping Orlando return to the postseason for the first time since 2020. Having spent the first 8 years of his career in Utah, he already had 50 playoff games to his credit.
Since free agency opened on Sunday night, the Magic have agreed to terms with two-time NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and brought back guard Gary Harris and centers Moe Wagner and Goga Bitadze on new deals. The franchise also worked to renegotiate and extend forward Jonathan Isaac after drafting Colorado forward Tristan da Silva last week.
Assuming the Magic bumped up Isaac’s $17.4 million salary for 2024-25 by $10 million (as The Athletic’s John Hollinger first mentioned) in a renegotiated front-loaded extension that decreases in future years, use part of the $8.1 room mid-level exception — which wouldn’t impede on the franchise’s cap room — for Bitadze and re-sign Harris with his Bird Rights, the moves leave Orlando with a projected $7 million in cap space.
How their contracts are structured annually could have an impact as well. But that’s the ballpark figure of projected cap space for Orlando.
In keeping with the theme of re-signing their own key free agents, the Magic could look to bring back guard Markelle Fultz, who has yet to agree to terms on a new deal elsewhere in the league.
There are other options on the free-agent market including shooting guard Luke Kennard — who shot 45.0% from 3 on 6.1 attempts for the Grizzles this season — and point guard Tyus Jones, who averaged 7.3 assists for the Wizards.
Regardless, the Magic have a spot to fill with Ingles headed back to the West.
What bringing back Moe Wagner, extending Jonathan Isaac means for Magic
It was his shooting and playmaking ability where he helped the Magic the most and part of the reason why the Timberwolves were intrigued by the Australian.
Ingles’ 43.5% from 3-point range led the Magic and was tied for fifth league-wide for players with at least 161 attempts.
But those long-range tries were the fewest of his career in a single season and marked the first time he didn’t crack at least 200. He also missed 14 games because of a left ankle sprain; 13 (Dec. 17-Jan. 9) for the injury and one more (Jan. 13) because of maintenance.
Although Ingles didn’t shoot at a high volume, he certainly knew which looks were his best.
Of his 161 attempts, 77.6% came from above the break (any 3 not taken from the corners). Among all forwards in the NBA with at least 125 attempts of above the break 3s, Ingles’ 42.4% success rate was second best.
That allowed him to help the spread floor and make proper reads to find cutting teammates. Often directing traffic for Orlando’s second unit, his 3.0 assists were third most for the Magic.
Now after one season with Orlando, Ingles departs to help the Timberwolves compete for an NBA title during his 11th year in the league.
Jason Beede can be reached at [email protected]
