Philadelphia 76ers: Veteran Free Agents To Target
By Simon Smith
Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz
At age 29, Ingles was somewhat of a revelation in Utah this season, his third in the league. With the Jazz suffering a plethora of injuries throughout the season, Ingles experienced a raise in playing time, from 15.3 to 24.1 minutes per game. As a result, Ingles’ impact skyrocketed. For the season, he posted 7.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 44.1 percent from the three-point range.
Ingles’ three-point shooting was particularly exceptional for attempts classified as wide open (6+ feet from closest opponent), per NBA.com. On 1.4 attempts per game, Ingles converted at a 52.3 percent clip. Last season, the Sixers ranked fifth in the league in this category with 13.0 attempts per game. With Brown’s ambition to play fast and attack the three-point line, Ingles would fit like a glove.
But it’s not just Ingles’ shooting that would attract the Sixers this summer. Ingles’ ability as a playmaker and ball handler would be a terrific complement to a young roster, Simmons in particular in his debut season. Last season, Ingles had 16 games where he dished out least five assists. Recently, in just his fourth career playoff game, Ingles dished out a career-best 11 assists in a crucial win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Ingles’ most impressive overall game last season was during a home loss to the Golden State Warriors. Coming off the bench, Ingles posted 21 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists in 35 minutes. His shooting was a feature, which included hitting 5-of-9 from downtown.
Another attraction for the Sixers is Ingles’ relationship with coach Brown, having worked together for the Australian Olympic team. Last season, Ingles expressed his thoughts on Brown:
"“I think he’s probably the best guy for that job, to rebuild a team…He’s a huge part of why I’m here today.”"
On top of his now three seasons in the NBA, Ingles spent several years in Spain and Israel, which included winning the 2014 Euroleague championship as a member of Maccabi Tel Aviv. Ingles played in all 82 games this season, and has missed just four games in his three seasons in Utah.
As a secondary ball handler, excellent three-point shooter and very capable defender with his long wingspan, Ingles would be a terrific complement for the up-and-coming Sixers.