In the days leading up to the February 10 trade deadline, veteran forward Joe Ingles confirmed he was prepared for the possibility that the Jazz could trade him. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, however, he admitted he was still “a little shocked” when he learned of the trade sending him to the Trail Blazers.
Still, after spending a month with the franchise, Ingles said it has been a “very, very good experience so far,” as Casey Holdahl of Blazers.com relays.
The Blazers have made it clear they weren’t just trading for Ingles’ expiring contract, indicating they have interest in him once he recovers from his ACL surgery. And while Ingles – who is still recovering in Utah for now – has previously talked about the possibility of returning to the Jazz after he becomes a free agent this summer, he’s not ruling out the possibility of a longer-term stay in Portland.
“Just talking to Renae, my wife, over the last few weeks about it, I almost feel like I owe Portland my best,” Ingles said on Wednesday. “They’ve bought in on me, obviously, being here now with everything off the court they’ve set up and helped with, head athletic trainer Jess (Cohen) coming to Chicago to do my surgery with me, make sure everything was good and spending a few days to make sure I got out.
“From top to bottom, I haven’t been around much, I’ve obviously been (in Salt Lake City) but I honestly feel like I’ve got to give them a chance. It would be very unfair of me, I think, for them to kind of buy in on me for now and then for me to walk away at the end of the year like ‘Thanks for getting my surgery and my (physical therapy) sorted, I’m going to leave you here!'”
Here are a few more of the most noteworthy comments Ingles made during his media session:
On his first impressions of the Blazers’ roster and situation:
“Just an exciting, young group that they’ve got now. But obviously a lot of flexibility in the summer as well. Excited to kind of see how it plays out.”
On his plan to eventually move his rehab from Utah to Portland:
“My rehab this whole summer is going to be in Portland. … I’ll head out to Portland for that home stretch of five or six games, whatever it is, at the end of March, I think it is. So I’ll go out there then, spend some time with everybody in Portland, which I think will be good for me, I think it will be good for them. … Excited about the future, I haven’t been a free agent since my second year really.”
On being traded after spending his first seven-and-a-half NBA seasons in Utah:
“I understand the business side of it, I understand the relationships. Eight years is a long time and I’ve built some pretty strong relationships here. And not even just (with the team), in the community, with my wife and what she does as well.
“… Regardless of if I’m injured or not, I still think I could have been an asset down there to help these guys. Knowing (Jazz head coach) Quin (Snyder), knowing the players, knowing what their goals are, I think I definitely could have still been important.
I have mixed emotions about it, obviously. … Very mixed emotions. I still get mad and frustrated some days with it. I’m living like 10 minutes up the road, so it’s annoying that I can’t go hang out — I guess I can hang out with the guys — go to the facility and do all that. It is what it is, like I said, I understand it. Do I necessarily agree with it or not? That could be up for debate… Just an interesting few months for me.”
He “almost” feels like he owes Portland his best? Wow.
Technically he doesn’t owe them anything so…
Yup. Some people are just jealous. It’s the owners world. The players are well compensated from our perspective. And the stars make serious bank. But the players don’t get a fraction of their actual value when you consider how much the owners make.
And what exactly do the owners do? It’s not like they are at risk of losing money since the franchises increase in value every year. The Lakers increased in value by $500M in one year but declined to pay Alex Caruso over $10M per year in luxury taxes.
And the owners demanded that there be a luxury tax in the first place. Sneaky.
That “almost” stuck out to me too, but when you consider they traded for him with two months left on his contract while he was about to undergo ACL surgery, it makes more sense — he probably figured that if he were traded, it would be purely for salary-matching purposes and he’d be waived the next day. He’s saying he feels some sense of obligation to the Blazers even though he might not ever play a game for them.
Sign a 1 yr for 2023-2024. Spend the year in a new area, a beautiful one albeit. Then go back to Utah for a year or two, retire where you’d built so much. Enjoy the ride and new scenery. Life is short even if you are a large human being with an endless supply of dough.
That is an inspiring thought but I think Portland would want at least a 2 year contract since he probably will be out all of next season.
The Jazz were definitely pressured to make a move, Joe. I’m sure they would welcome you back. Although, it couldn’t hurt to remind them by showing them what they’re missing. Stay safe and heal up quickly as possible. You’re a fun player to watch and great guy! Big hug! =)