It was expected by many that Joe Ingles would leave the Milwaukee Bucks in NBA Free Agency after his lone season with the team, and that will indeed be the case.
According to ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Ingles is leaving Milwaukee to sign a new two-year deal worth $22 million with the Orlando Magic.
Joe Ingles signs with the Magic: Reaction and Analysis for Bucks
It was an up-and-down year for Ingles in Milwaukee. Coming off an ACL tear, the forward made his debut midway through the season. As expected, it took him time to get integrated with the new system, but still, he never quite found his footing entirely. Following a playoff run where the Bucks were hindered by a lack of athleticism and youth, the writing was on the wall that Ingles, who is 35 years old and will be 36 quite soon, would not be back with Milwaukee, in all likelihood.
Even if they wanted to bring him back, the Bucks certainly were not going to come anywhere close to the Magic’s hefty offer financially.
Ingles is a solid addition to a young Magic team. He’ll serve as a solid veteran presence for a team looking to take a leap next season. On the court, he’ll bring more outside shooting and playmaking, which will help this team immensely. He will also be a valuable presence in that locker room, just like he was for Milwaukee. At $11 annually, it’s a pretty steep contract, but having a key veteran on a young team will always be beneficial, so it makes sense. On top of that, Orlando had a good amount of spending money to utilize.
The Bucks have now officially lost two solid rotational players from last season in Joe Ingles and Jevon Carter, who inked a deal with the Bulls. The front office has some work to do in order to fill out those spots, and it will be interesting to see how they go about it. For now, all eyes are on Brook Lopez and where he may end up. Bucks fans are collectively holding their breath right now.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks rumors, analysis, and breakdowns as free agency happens.