Injured Australian star Joe Ingles has been traded away by the Utah Jazz ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
Ingles, who is out for the rest of the season after tearing his ACL last week, has reportedly been moved in a three-way deal between the Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs.
According to ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski, so famous for breaking NBA news that his tweets are often called "Woj bombs", Ingles is being shipped to Portland along with Elijah Hughes and a second-round pick.
Ingles said even though he saw it coming, the news was still painful to hear.
"Today hurts," he wrote on Twitter.
"I got a lot more to say, but I'm going to have a beer and relax with some good friends.
"Go get a win fellas! I'll always be watching."
The 34-year-old has played all eight of his NBA seasons with the Utah Jazz, becoming their all-time leader in three-point shooting, but was on the last year of his contract so he is a free agent in the summer.
Portland is effectively acquiring him to get salary cap space for the off-season.
That means the door remains open for a possible return to Utah, which he has made his home with wife and ex-netball star Renae, and their three children.
"Appreciate the love and support from near and far," the former Australian Diamond said on social media.
"Today is so sad. I don't have the words to put together just yet.
"Incredibly grateful for the last eight years here as part of the Jazz family and Utah community. Focus is Joe's knee and rehab.
"Deeply saddened and thankful for you all."
Joe Ingles said in anticipation of being traded that he understood the Jazz may have to move him this season, but flagged he would be keen to return.
"If I'm able to get someone back that would help them make a push for the end of the year, I understand that. I'm not going to sit here and be sour and upset," he told ESPN.
Wojnarowski said Utah is getting Nickeil Alexander-Walker from the Blazers and Juancho Hernangomez from the Spurs, while San Antonio gets Tomas Satoransky and a second-round pick from Portland.
The 23-year-old Alexander-Walker averaged 12.8 points, 3.3 boards and 2.8 assists in 50 games with the New Orleans Pelicans.
The trade is part of a big shift for the Blazers, who only acquired Alexander-Walker and Satoransky a day ago when they broke up their superstar backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, trading the latter to the Pelicans.
