ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic didn’t wait long to make a move once NBA free agency opened Friday evening.
Free agent forward Joe Ingles agreed on a two-year, $22 million contract with the Magic, his agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports told ESPN.
The second year of Ingles’ deal with Orlando is a team option, USA TODAY’s Jeff Zillgitt reported. Free agents can’t officially sign until 12:01 p.m. ET on July 6.
Ingles spent last season in Milwaukee after he signed a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Bucks. The 6-8 forward played 46 games and averaged 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 22.7 minutes there.
Before his one season with the Bucks, Ingles spent eight with the Utah Jazz, where he became known for his ability to shoot from beyond the arc.
Ingles, however, injured his knee just over halfway through the 2021-22 season. He was traded to Portland that year, but he never played for the Trail Blazers before signing with the Bucks last offseason.
A 40.8% career 3-point shooter, Ingles also provides the Magic with a veteran presence on and off the court. Entering his 10th year in the league, Ingles will turn 36 in October.
The Australian left-hander spent several years playing overseas before heading to the NBA in 2014.
Earlier Friday, the Magic guaranteed the contracts of guards Gary Harris and Markelle Fultz for the 2023-24 season, the Sentinel learned via league sources on Friday.
While Orlando guaranteed the contracts of Harris and Fultz, the guarantee date for Bol Bol’s $2.2 million salary has been moved to a future date, league sources said. The future date was not disclosed.
This all comes one day after the Magic exercised its team option on center Goga Bitadze for the 2023-24 season while declining options on Admiral Schofield and Michael Carter-Williams.
The previously reported moves and a new agreement with Ingles leaves Orlando with one open roster spot remaining.
It’s possible the team could sign their lone free agent, center Moe Wagner, whose 2-year contract for $3.6 million signed in 2021 expires, or it could decide to guarantee Bol’s contract. Of course, doing neither of those and searching for another player to sign is possible too.
Regardless, the Magic add an experienced sharpshooter by agreeing to terms with Ingles to open free agency this summer.
