Joe Ingles, Minnesota Timberwolves
Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been busy the past few days. Tim Connelly handed out more than $200 million in extensions to Naz Reid and Julius Randle. Free agency begins on Monday night, and there’s already one man set to return.
With Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore taking over as owners of the franchise it remains to be seen how the financials will play out now and in the future. Currently the Timberwolves are up against the second apron when it comes to luxury tax implications.
The financial constraints played a part in their decision to part ways with both Luka Garza and Josh Minott. They did find money to bring back Joe Ingles, however.
Joe Ingles back for MN Timberwolves
Last season the Minnesota Timberwolves made veteran forward Joe Ingles a part of their plans during free agency. He signed a contract for just over $2 million. He’s coming back for 2025-26 and will get even more than that.
Free agent forward Joe Ingles intends to sign a one-year, $3.6 million deal to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN. Wolves officials negotiated the deal with Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports to bring Ingles back for his 12th NBA season. pic.twitter.com/EHUd73sf9u
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025
At $3.6 million Ingles is getting a relatively hefty raise. It’s almost double the amount he played for last year. It’s also some of the money that could have been used to secure either Garza or Minott on their player options.
This season will be the Ingles’ 12th in the NBA. The Australian native played eight years with the Utah Jazz before signing with the Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
I know many people are gonna be negative about the Joe Ingles signing, but he's a massive presence on the Timberwolves roster
Julius countless times said Joe can easily pull him aside when he's frustrated and help him get level headed
Jaden has expressed how strong his… pic.twitter.com/XRQ9JF3RIL
— Wolves Lead (@TWolvesLead) June 30, 2025
A second season with Minnesota represents the first time Ingles has played for a franchise beyond Utah for more than one season. Last year with the Timberwolves Ingles averaged a career-low six minutes per game. He scored just 0.8 points per game, but clearly made an impact in the locker room.
It remains to be seen how Chris Finch will use Ingles moving forward. He was a non-existent part of the rotation last year. The renewed commitment for more money suggests there could be more on the horizon. If nothing else, his veteran presence is something that expands beyond the court and is clearly something Minnesota buys into.
Related: Two Words For MN Timberwolves Naz Reid: Pay Day
Minnesota still needs to find a competent ball-handler that can facilitate the offense. The Timberwolves have reached the Western Conference Finals in each of the past two seasons only to be bounced by 4-1 deficits.
Although Ingles has agreed to a new contract, it won’t become official until the NBA calendar allows on July 6 at 12:01 pm ET.
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