Utah Jazz: Have they seen the last of Joe Ingles?

Joe Ingles has become a fan favorite with the Utah Jazz but it might be time to start saying goodbye to the highly sought-after small forward.

If you love something set it free. If it comes back, it’s yours. If not, it was never meant to be.

The Utah Jazz are setting Joe Ingles free in his restricted quest to sign a new contract — a contract that after just three years in a league and now at 30 years old, will be the biggest of his career.

Playing well above his $2.1 million pay grade in 2016-17, Ingles averaged 7.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 24 minutes per game.

The face value of his numbers don’t scream with desperation to match any offer sheet Ingles receives, but his fit in their team will warrant considering even the most outlandish of offers.

His 44 percent three-point shooting stretches the floor and demands a defender’s attention before he skips past a rushing shot blocker, and finds the open man left unattended by the help defender.

Slow-Mo Joe and his nonchalant style of play isn’t for everyone, but it’s ideal for the Jazz.

SI.coms Zach Pereles identifies Ingles’ basketball IQ and the way he processes what’s in front of him as his greatest asset.

"“Ingles will never blow by you with speed, his mental acuity is a step ahead of the competition. He sees the floor very well and has become one of the Jazz’s best facilitators.”"

For a Jazz team likely to lose their starting point guard in George Hill, they will be eager to carry as many savvy ball-handlers as possible should the replacement struggle.

Keeping Hill is an unlikely proposition with money in the bank being his focus – he’s approaching the twilight of his career and a 32nd birthday during the 2017-18 season.

Ingles, although a restricted free agent, might be just as difficult to retain, according to Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale:

"“Just three other players wrapped 2016-17 averaging at least 6.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 3.0 three-point makes per 100 possessions: Stephen Curry, Manu Ginobili and Chris Paul. So would it really be surprising to see Ingles solicit a four-year offer sheet worth $60 million—DeMarre Carroll money—or more? And what does Utah do then?”"

The Jazz’s 2017-18 salary cap situation is a difficult scenario to navigate. Rudy Gobert‘s contract kicks in, Gordon Hayward is hopefully re-signing and Hill’s cap hold is on the books for $12 million until he signs with another team – paying that kind of money for Ingles isn’t an option.

Desperate teams will make desperate signings.

The Brooklyn Nets or Sacramento Kings are going to attempt to offer some class and consistency to their struggling rosters and Ingles could be their guy.

With teams no doubt circling the 6-foot-8 Ingles, he has said he wants to remain in Utah, telling the Salt Lake Tribune:

"“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.”"

Saying all the right things today might not mean much if a team comes calling with $60 million to offer like Favale suggests.

For a 51-win team, this offseason has become massively important to ensuring future short-term success. Retaining Ingles will be difficult, but a good place to start.

Next: 2017 NBA Mock Draft: Post-Lottery edition

Given the chance we have seen Slow-Mo Joe in a Jazz uniform for the last time though, finding his replacement will be an all new challenge.