The Utah Jazz have emerged as potential trade partners for the Golden State Warriors, and shooting guard Joe Ingles may be the player the Dubs set their sights on. For now, it seems more like a pipe dream than a realistic option.
Apparently, the Jazz could be open to dealing Ingles; however, for Golden State to acquire one of the league’s best sharpshooters, it won’t be as easy as it sounds. Ingles is set to make $14 million next season.
The Golden State Warriors may be looking to trade for Joe Ingles, but for now, the elite sharpshooter seems relatively unattainable.
Ingles will be a free agent next season as well, and his potential to get a deal valued in the $15-20 million annually should make him a bit cheaper in trade talks. Despite that, there’s still not easy route to getting a deal done.
For starters, a Kelly Oubre Jr. sign-and-trade that would have to involve a third team that wants his ability to create may be necessary.
On top of that, compensating the Jazz would be needed, and it may cost power forward Eric Paschall, who is close friends with Donovan Mitchell, No. 14 overall pick Moses Moody and potentially a couple of other players or picks.
Now, figuring out the trades that are possible for Ingles is no easy task, but seeing how he would fit with the Warriors is. Ingles is set to enter his eighth season in the NBA, and unlikely recent signee Otto Porter Jr., Ingles has been an ironman throughout his career.
He’s played over 65 games in every season and all 82 in three of the seven. His availability is important to note, but his three-point shooting is the most impressive part of his game. Ingles averaged 2.7 threes per game last season and shot over 45 percent from deep.
With Porter, who is a career 40 percent three-point shooter also on the roster, the duo alongside Thompson and Curry would create a dynamic offense. The court space for Curry to operate would be unmatched among any other lineup in his career.
For now, this is a pipe dream, and given what we have seen from Ingles throughout the last few seasons, the fit would be perfect, which is the painful part for Dub Nation. That said, getting him to the Bay Area is the problem, and it’s not one that will be resolved easily.
If general manager Bob Myers can pull the deal off, everyone needs to tip their cap as the Warriors front office will need to jump some hurdles to make the trade a reality.