The Young Timberwolves Could Learn A Lot From Joe Ingles' Craft

Minimum contracts and filling out the back end of the roster often create rampant speculation. On top of that uncertainty lies a true lack of flexibility with the new CBA apron rules, making it even more difficult to find contributors around the margins. Teams must become more savvy with their signings, which is exactly what the Minnesota Timberwolves did when signing Joe Ingles, a 19-year professional basketball veteran, 10-year NBA veteran, and former Utah Jazz high-impact role player.

While the soon-to-be 37-year-old Ingles is winding down his career, Tim Connelly has returned to the well with his Rudy Gobert super chemistry tree. Trading for Mike Conley and reuniting the former Utah teammates worked out perfectly for the Wolves. Conley offered more PnR capabilities to feed Rudy and overall more comfortability. Adding Conley completely plugs a hole of uncertainty that overshadowed the entire first half of the 2022-23 season.

Few players in the league have showcased as much chemistry as Ingles has alongside Gobert. His handoff abilities and pick-and-roll creativity alongside Gobert were Ingles’ staple in Utah. By fueling most of his points and assists off the dribble through many play types, whether as an initiator, second-side ball-handler, or off-ball threat, Ingles provided the optimal flow and rhythm the Jazz needed.

Ingles has always lacked the agility and foot speed you would expect from an NBA player, which would meaningfully hinder many players’ games. However, he has found ways to use it to his advantage. He uses his quick processing skills to be calculated, deceptive, and unpredictable, which keeps opposing defenses guessing. He became so successful at finding Gobert that he had to develop another strategy. That's where he implements his signature ball fake. It's one of his favorite ways to find success downhill and evidence that he's constantly adapting.

Unfortunately for the Wolves, though, Ingles' Jazz days are far behind. He will play for his third team in three seasons since leaving Utah. However, he has still found ways to make an impact, even while working through an ACL tear at 34.

Although his performance has dropped off as he’s aged, Ingles has still found ways to be successful without Rudy Gobert. He’s doing what he does best. Last year, Ingles was Moe Wagner's lead set-up man in Orlando, linking up for 70 assists this past season. He also found rhythm alongside Brook Lopez with the Milwaukee Bucks, recording 41 assists in 2022-23.

Ingles is not the Sixth Man of the Year candidate he once was. Still, he’s more than capable of being a change of pace, regular season ball-handler off the bench. But even if his game has declined with age, Ingles has become a vocal veteran. He often displayed his ability to connect the fourth-youngest team in Orlando, becoming a mentor for the Magic’s myriad young players.

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There are many parallels between what Ingles does well and Minnesota’s offensive struggles this past season, creating a potential mentorship pathway for this upcoming season.

Integrating Rudy Gobert offensively was the genesis of many of these issues. While Mike Conley shored up many of those downfalls, Minnesota’s untimely turnovers, the inexperience of the youth, and the Wolves’ overall lack of feel for playmaking as a unit hindered them throughout the season. If they want to maximize their ceiling offensively, it is vital to find the rhythmic flow with multiple options that Chris Finch sought. You cannot rush the development process, although more guidance never hurts.

Anthony Edwards has made massive strides as a playmaker. Last year, he threw incredible skip passes and did not play with as much tunnel vision. Still, he struggled to find his balance and feel within PnR possessions, often rejecting the screen for his shot rather than using it and unlocking multiple routes for success.

Elite-level decision-making tied to high usage is difficult for players to achieve for good reason. The mix of nuance and pure skill is hard to balance.

The Wolves also drafted Rob Dillingham, their potential point guard of the future. The former Kentucky guard has shown flashes of brilliance as a passer, but due to his small stature -- 6'1 ", 164 lbs. at this year's NBA combine — he will need to be creative with his distribution in the NBA.

Guidance is important. Enter Ingles, the master of nuance.

Ingles has a tremendous feel for the game. His strengths are his ball fakes downhill, scooping touch passes, and the ability to find crafty angles to make pocket passes to bigs. While the Wolves have plenty of pure talent, Ingles offers an entirely different pace. Most importantly, he’s patient on screens, always finding the correct pathway to get downhill.

Ingles has never had the breakaway speed or quick first step to blow by defenders, so he has had to find other ways to be productive. One of his signature moves is using the screen a second time or the “rescreen” to find another angle. He often ends possessions in a two-versus-one downhill against the drop big defender, having many options.

While the young Wolves guards are much more athletic than Ingles, taking away an ounce of Ingles's style of play and overall feel will only develop their game to another level. Ingles will not be a vital part of next year’s Wolves team as he was in Utah. Still, having a battle-tested veteran who has played on both NBA teams and prominent EuroLeague clubs throughout his career will be beneficial.