‘Today hurts’: Injured Ingles traded by Utah Jazz, Giddey with excitement over Ball’s All-Star nod

One of Australian basketball’s great success stories is over, for now, but Joe Ingles and the Utah Jazz could still partner up again next season.

The injured Ingles did the professional thing and supported the Jazz as they finalised a three-team trade on Thursday (AEDT) sending his $US13 million ($18 million) contract to Portland, and receiving Canadian Nickeil Alexander-Walker from Portland and Juancho Hernangomez from San Antonio, with second-round draft picks and players going to the other two clubs.

Joe Ingles in action for the Utah Jazz earlier this season.Credit: Getty Images

Both players will bolster the Jazz’s bench as they chase the NBA title while Ingles, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament recently, will focus on his recovery as he aims to play on next season.

Ingles tweeted that it hurts to say goodbye to the Jazz but he wished his teammates well. “Today hurts … I knew it was a possibility but didn’t want to believe it, we have been lucky to call this place home for 8 years! I got a lot more to say, but I’m going to have a beer & relax with some good friends.. Go get a win fellas! I’ll always be watching.”

Ingles told media in Utah last week he understood his expiring contract had value and wouldn’t take a trade personally, and he has also kept the door open to re-joining the club next season.

The 34-year-old was in his eighth season with the Jazz after they threw him a lifeline in 2014 when the LA Clippers unexpectedly cut him, after signing him from Europe.

It turned out to be the best move of Ingles’ career, becoming a fan favourite and earning a four-year, $US52 million deal in 2017, which he extended through to this season.

Ingles, wife Renae and their three children are settled in Salt Lake City, and it is hard to see Portland demanding that he move while rehabilitating.

Ingles’ contract could be traded on before Friday’s trade deadline should another team seek salary cap room for next season.

Ben Simmons could still potentially move teams, potentially for Brooklyn’s James Harden, should the Philadelphia 76ers change their minds and trade him before Friday’s deadline, but a deal appears unlikely.

Giddey celebrates Ball’s All-Star selection

Josh Giddey followed LaMelo Ball’s lead in using the NBL as a launching pad for his move to the NBA, and now Ball has hopefully shown the way for the Australian guard to become an NBA All-Star.

The 19-year-old Oklahoma City Thunder rookie has often referenced Ball’s season as a Next Stars player in the NBL, and becoming a top-three pick in the NBA draft, as reasons behind his decision to play a season with Adelaide 36ers instead of going to US college basketball.

Giddey said he was rapt for Ball and for the NBL when the Charlotte Hornets guard and San Antonio guard Dejounte Murray were called into the All-Star game as injury replacements.

“It’s awesome to see. He was one of the reasons I decided to stay home and play the NBL, just watching him and RJ Hampton and the successes that they had,” Giddey said this week.

“Seeing the legitimacy of the NBL as a path was something that made it easier for me.

“With Melo being an All-Star, I’m happy for him. He deserved that. He’s been great leading that Charlotte team. It speaks volumes for the NBL and how good the Next Star pathway has become.”

Ball and Murray are tall guards, like Giddey, who have a variety of skills and look to be playmakers. Their elevation could be a sign coaches and NBA officials may look to Giddey in future should he turn his stellar rookie season into an even stronger campaign next season, as Ball is only in his second season.

Giddey will get a taste of NBA All-Star weekend in Cleveland as he has been selected to play in the rising stars game and has also been entered into the skills challenge while fellow Aussie Patty Mills into the three-point contest.

Serbia ‘hospitable’ as Opals begin World Cup qualifiers

Australian Opals coach Sandy Brondello says the people of Belgrade, Serbia have been “hospitable” to the team at its FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament this week.

The Opals as hosts and Team USA as gold medallists are guaranteed places at the World Cup in Sydney in September but are playing for the match practice.

Brondello is resetting her side after the loss of Liz Cambage and a lack of serious games saw the side miss out on a medal in Tokyo.

The Australian Opals play around during team photos ahead of their world cup qualifiers in Serbia.Credit: FIBA.basketball

The Opals have several new faces, including guard Shyla Heal, but will be playing without star centre Ezi Magbegor due to injury and they will face Brazil, Serbia and Korea.

After Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic was deported ahead of the Australian Open, there were concerns the Opals could face some undeserved backlash.

“We are in a bubble in our hotel, so we go to trainings or to games and then come back, but everyone has been hospitable,” Brondello said.

“The game [against Serbia] will probably be a little different, but you have to get used to those environments, we played Spain in the semi-finals of the last World Cup in Spain. It’s the host nation so you will have passionate fans and you have to go out there, handle the pressure and play well when the crowd isn’t with us.

“We also have to remember that at the World Cup the home crowd will be with us.”

Brondello said her Opals would be chasing three wins from what should be a very close tournament with Sami Whitcomb, Alanna Smith, Cayla George and Rebecca Allen all among players expected to take on key roles.

“We want to win, but it’s more about us playing well,” Brondello said.

“I don’t want to focus on the result. It’s just about playing in the right way, learning from our mistakes, but also [realising] this is an evaluation period.”

“So there’s pressure on ourselves to perform as a team because we want to do well, we want to play well.”

The Opals play Brazil on Thursday at 10pm, Serbia on Sunday at 7am and Korea on Monday at 1am (AEDT) with ESPN and Kayo showing games live.

What could have been as Wagstaff plays 400th

Six-time NBL championship winner Jesse Wagstaff is due to play his 400th game for the Perth Wildcats against Melbourne United at John Cain Arena on Saturday.

He’s played his whole career for the Wildcats and 56 games were in finals. He also holds the NBL record appearing in nine grand final series.

But the 35-year-old could have started his career in Victoria if the then South Dragons hadn’t gone under ahead of his rookie season in 2009.

In a video on his club’s social media feed this week, Wagstaff said he was waiting on a contract offer from the Dragons when his agent called to say the team was no more.

Luckily, Wagstaff also had a connection to then Wildcats coach Rob Beveridge which led to a lifeline in Perth where he has thrived.

“I’d known Bevo for a long while, my mum had taught him in primary school so he was like a family friend,” Wagstaff said.

“It was lucky enough that he got the Perth job and I scrapped through and got a contract with Perth.”