Analyzing Joe Ingles role with the Milwaukee Bucks

This off season the Milwaukee Bucks have really focused on retaining their “own” players. The one major exception to that trend has been the free agent signing of Joe Ingles. To some this signing has come as a surprise when you consider that he is coming off an ACL injury that required surgery this past February. What kind of a role can a player coming off of surgery have on a talent loaded team with legitimate championship goals?

First we must dig into his injury, Joe Ingles was injured on January 30, 2022 while a member of the Utah Jazz. He tore his ACL in his left knee which would require surgery to repair. That surgery would eventually take place on February 23, after he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, and is expected to keep the eight year veteran out of action until at least mid December at the earliest according to some reports. Of course recovery from ACL injuries varies from player to player and can be very unpredictable. So with this late start, what does Joe’s role in the 2022-23 Milwaukee Bucks’ season look like?

It looks like he is set to miss at least two months of the season. That would leave about four months for him to work himself into a role on the team before the playoffs. Joe Ingles, for his career, averages about 25.7 minutes, 8.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. Injury or not, he may not average those minutes on this Milwaukee Bucks team, however, once he is fully recovered there should not be any reason he can’t average close to the rest of the other numbers. He will be battling for minutes with the likes of Pat Connaughton, Bobby Portis, Marjon Beauchamp and Jordan Nwora. Connaughton and Portis have been the primary 6th man for the Bucks when the starters are healthy, Ingles could potentially join that club. There is also the possibility he slides over and battles George Hill and Jevon Carter for playing time, as he is a somewhat underrated ball handler as well. This will all take time with the major factor being how soon he actually steps foot on the court in game action!

The main reason for signing Joe Ingles to the one year, 6.5 million contract may be the Milwaukee Bucks’ anticipated postseason championship run. For his career Joe’s numbers kick up a notch in the postseason. He has averaged 31.3 minutes, 9.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.8 points per game in the Playoffs. The Bucks could really use that type of clutch, veteran play in the postseason.

It is my belief that Joe Ingles was brought in to bring that clutch leadership off the bench in the postseason. Someone that can come in and not only shoot the three but also bring in veteran leadership and possibly run the offense. A lack of playmaking from the second unit was glaring during the Bucks playoff series with the Boston Celtics. Being that playmaker off the bench is jus5 one of several ways Ingles could help the Milwaukee Bucks next season. Much the same role that George Hill was given last season but struggled to achieve. The main question is how quickly and effectively his game and body responds to the the offseason surgery.

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