The Minnesota Timberwolves are anticipated to be largely inactive in NBA free agency because to their cap restrictions. The Timberwolves are unable to pay any outside free agents more than the veteran minimum, which ranges from $1.15 million to $3.6 million based on years played, unless they re-sign their own players.
However, the Timberwolves are already being connected to one experienced shooter as of 5:00 PM on Sunday, the formal start of the free agent negotiation period (which does not include signing). In the past, he has even played with Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert.
Timberwolves insider Dane Moore mentioned on Saturday that Joe Ingles is someone fans should watch, even before free agency officially started. He mentioned Minnesota’s previous season’s pursuit of the former Utah Jazz small forward as justification, as the Orlando Magic’s two-year, $22 million offer eventually outbid Minnesota’s. The Magic, on the other hand, elected to let the 36-year-old test free agency lately while holding a team option for the second season.
This brings us to Evan Porter’s story from Sunday, which indicates that the Timberwolves are, in fact, already expressing interest in Ingles. Moore has already made references to it, but it is unknown if the Australian is willing to accept a vet-minimum deal in order to win his first NBA Championship.
As a seasoned 10-year NBA veteran who joined the league at 27, it’s evident that Ingles’ finest days are behind him, but he still possesses a very special talent: with a career accuracy percentage of 41%, he is among the league’s top perimeter shooters. No matter how elderly or unathletic he is, the Timberwolves may benefit from his precision off the bench.
Making the switch to a man with eight years of experience playing with Gobert and three beside Conley might be a reasonable compromise, considering the Wolves are poised to lose Kyle Anderson as he pursues larger offers. Although Ingles is unlikely to be in the starting lineup for the first seven or eight games barring injury, it never hurts to have a shooter who can contribute to the team’s success when Chris Finch rings his number.
