Utah Jazz: Who’s staying and who’s going in 2017 free agency?
By Jason Oliver
Joe Ingles
2016-17 salary: $2.1 million
Joe Ingles had himself a career year and is in position to accept a career payday, which might be an issue for the Jazz.
With money seemingly in abundance when it comes to recent free agent periods, the Jazz will be wary of an offer over what they consider market value for their restricted free agent.
In a league struggling for wing players at the moment, Ingles’ skill set will be highly sought after.
A deceptively good passer, Ingles offered up 2.7 assists per game in his 24 minutes of court time a night. With his ability find the open man – in particular, Gordon Hayward, who connected on 60 percent of his shots when assisted by Ingles — opposing defenders couldn’t rush him like they would most other perimeter threats.
Ingles shot 44 percent from beyond the arc on his 3.4 attempts per game. With the three-ball such a large factor in the NBA today, Ingles will be a target for many, currently wing-less, teams.
If the Jazz can have Ingles return at a good price, then they will undoubtedly pull the trigger, but he’s not a guy they will break the bank on. His future depends on outside offers and the hope he’s not offered the sort of salary too good to pass up.
Ingles told the Salt Lake Tribune he wants to stay:
"“Everyone knows that I want to come back. I couldn’t think of a better place to come back. Hopefully it all works out and it’s a nice, quick process.”"
But money talks, especially to a guy signing that will be signing the biggest contract of his NBA career.