Reports: Joe Ingles expected to make a return for Milwaukee Bucks soon
Earlier this year, former Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles tore his ACL, following which, he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers and signed a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Ingles closed his 2021-22 season with 45 games, the last of which was played against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Jan. 30. Ingles averaged 7.2 points and 3.5 assists last season.
The Jazz then proceeded to trade Ingles at the trade deadline to the Trail Blazers, who retained his one-year contract and in the 2022 offseason, Ingles signed with the Bucks on a mini mid-level exception worth $6.48 million.
Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer threw light on Ingles' condition before the Bucks' game yesterday, stating:
“I think it’s fair to say he’s (Ingles) getting close. I mean, if you’re playing with our G League group and you’re playing five on five and live action — but again, you know, you’ve got to get to a conditioning level to be ready to play in an NBA game.
"You’ve got to get kind of, I would say, a significant number of reps of just playing and doing things and building up just everything that it takes to go into playing an NBA game. So, hopefully, somewhere there is an answer for you." (via) Eric Nehm (The Athletic)
Ingles is yet to suit up in a Bucks jersey, and was initially expected to miss the entire first half of the 2022-23 season.
With Joe Ingles expected to return for second half of the season, attrition might be on the cards for the Bucks
With the addition of Joe Ingles, the Milwaukee Bucks' roster boasts plenty of formidable sharpshooters which might suggest attrition as we move closer to the trade deadline.
Pat Connaughton, Grayson Allen, Jevon Carter, Joe Ingles and Brook Lopez are all spot-up shooters for the Bucks, with Lopez acting as a stretch-big. However, with Connaughton missing the first 15 games of the season and struggling to find rhythm, and Allen already having been pitched in a trade, the Bucks might just try to consolidate their roster even more by the trade deadline.
Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder was on the Bucks' radar when Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer reported that the Bucks were shopping Allen around. Fischer added that they had contacted several teams regarding Allen's prospects.
With Allen shooting around 40.9% from deep on 4.8 attempts per game, the undersized guard out of Duke could be vulnerable on defense, and the Bucks might just look to trade him in for a bulkier SF or shooting guard.