Joe Ingles Returns To Jazz For A Two-Year $4.5M Deal

The Utah Jazz re-signed restricted free agent Joe Ingles on a two-year deal worth $4.5 million. The Australian forward returns to Salt Lake City as part of an excellent young core of players including Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert, Trey Burkes, and Alec Burks.

Ingles was Jazz’s first free agent signing this summer in what has been a very quiet offseason for the basketball club. There were speculations that Ingles was interested to join fellow Australian Patty Mills in San Antonio, but Ingles opted to stay in Utah to play with Australian colleague Dante Exum according to reports of Sydney Morning Herald.

"Absolutely pumped to be back with the @utahjazz for another 2 years! Lots of exciting times ahead with the group we have!" Ingles posted on his Instagram page on Tuesday.

Ingles’ agent Mark Bartelstein confirmed a deal had been done on Monday with the second year small forward coming to terms with Jazz. Bartelstein said that a number of teams have called to express interest in the 27-year-old Australian. He was also convinced that Jazz made a good decision in keeping Ingles because “the system they play is tailor-made of what Joe does” and more importantly the Australian baller has “great chemistry” with the players.

"They're a great organization to do business with, because they give opportunities to players. And once they do, they invest a lot of time and effort into developing them. Joe is a perfect example of that,” Bartelstein said via Yahoo Sports.

The versatile Australian has provided a unique skillset to the Jazz while playing multiple positions. Ingles can play shooting guard, small forward, and even power forward in small ball situations.

The youngster from South Australia will once again help Jazz’s wing rotation behind Hayward, Burks, and Rodney Hood. He averaged five points, two rebounds and two assists in his rookie season while starting 32 games. Ingles was signed by Los Angeles Clippers on September 2014, but was waived the next month only to be claimed off waivers by Utah Jazz.