Joe Ingles Reveals Why He Signed with Orlando Magic
ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic didn't make much noise in free agency this summer, but the team added some experience in Joe Ingles.
Ingles, who turned 36 on Monday, signed a two-year, $22 million contract after playing last season with the Milwaukee Bucks. There were a lot of factors that went into Ingles' decision to sign with the Magic, but he had his family on his mind first and foremost.
"I think for me as you get older, I'm not purely picking where I want to play basketball, obviously, that's a part of it, but having my wife and kids and our oldest son, especially who's on the spectrum and starting school now," Ingles said. "One of the things obviously my agent knew straightaway was that I wasn't going anywhere where there wasn't a school for Jacob."
On top of Orlando being a good fit for his family, the basketball team also gave Ingles several reasons to lure him away from the Bucks and other contending suitors.
Joe Ingles with the Milwaukee Bucks
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
"Having a bit of relationship with Coach [Mosley], kind of getting to know him over the last few years through some mutual connections and playing against his team the last few years and how they've been kind of trending upwards, and the way they play and yeah, just all of that kind of combined was a pretty easy decision," Ingles said.
Ingles provides much-needed veteran leadership and maturity to the roster, something the Magic needs if it wants to return to the playoffs after a four-year drought.
"I know that we wanted to try to get a guy like Joe here ... I won't even say that guy like Joe, we wanted to get Joe, because he's a unique guy," Weltman said. "And I think he'll help help us in every possible way."
Despite seeing a dip in production for the 58-win Bucks last season, Ingles has proven his ability to make an impact from beyond the arc where he's posted a career mark of 40.8 percent, while also dishing out 3.7 assists per contest. For a Magic team that struggled shooting from downtown, Ingles could also make an impact in that department.
Ingles is the right combination of someone who adds value but doesn't take away from the core that must continue to develop, making him a good fit for the Magic.
