Wife devastated as Joe Ingles traded from Utah during NBA shake-up

Joe Ingles’ wife is absolutely devastated after the Australian basketball star was discarded by the only NBA team he’s ever known.

Australian basketball star Joe Ingles has been shipped out of Utah as teams make more last-minute moves ahead of the NBA trade deadline expiring.

Ingles, who joined the Jazz in 2014 and has spent all eight of his NBA seasons with the franchise, is heading to Portland as Utah took part in a three-team trade.

The Jazz will receive Trail Blazers star Nickeil Alexander-Walker and San Antonio Spurs reserve forward Juancho Hernangomez as part of the deal.

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NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reports Portland will trade former Pelicans guard Tomas Satoransky to San Antonio and acquire Utah’s Elijah Hughes, while the Jazz give the Blazers a second-round draft pick and the Spurs a second-round pick in 2027.

On Thursday, Ingles tweeted: “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’ wife Renae was devastated by the move. “Appreciate the love & support from near and far. Today is so sad. I don’t have the words to put together just yet,” she wrote on social media.

“Incredibly grateful for the last 8 years here as part of the Jazz family & Utah community. Focus is Joe’s knee & rehab. Deeply saddened, & thankful for you all xxx.”

Ingles, who was instrumental in leading the Boomers to their first ever Olympic medal in Tokyo last year, will miss the rest of this season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

The Aussie became a cult hero among Jazz fans but at 34, in what was the final season of his $18m contract with the franchise, he has worn a Utah jersey for the final time.

Before his devastating injury Ingles averaged 7.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while across his NBA career, he shoots at over 40 per cent from three-point range and averages 8.6 points and 3.8 assists per game.

The likeable veteran was in career-best form last season, when he averaged 12.1 points and 4.7 assists per game to finish runner-up in the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.

Last week Ingles. who is determined to make a comeback from his injury that can keep athletes out of action for 12 months, told ESPN he was prepared for the reality of being traded from the team he loves.

“If I’m able to get someone back that would help them make a push for the end of the year, I understand that,” Ingles said.

“I’m not going to sit here and be sour and upset. I’ve built my eight years here of hard work and in the community and all that stuff, but I’m very well aware of the business side and all that stuff.”

Joe Ingles is with the Jazz no longer. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports the 76ers are considering putting Aussie Olympian Matisse Thybulle on the trade table as bait for Brooklyn Nets superstar James Harden.

The Sixers have famously been trying to negotiate a trade for an unhappy Ben Simmons, who is yet to play a single second in the NBA this season, but so far have not received a suitable offer in exchange for the Melbourne-born All-Star.

The Blazers’ pick-up of Ingles comes as they continue a huge roster revamp, engaging in a six-player trade with New Orleans this week.

Portland is breaking up its backcourt duo of CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard by sending star guard McCollum to New Orleans while Larry Nance Jr and Tony Snell were also shipped off to the Pelicans.

In return, Portland receives New Orleans stars Josh Hart, Alexander-Walker (who was later traded to Utah), Tomas Satoransky and Didi Louzada as well as draft compensation. The Trail Blazers are reportedly acquiring a 2022 protected first-round pick and two second-round picks.

Wojnarowski wrote on Twitter Portland’s plan is to rebuild around superstar Lillard, who at one point was being mentioned in potential trade deals with Simmons in Philadelphia.

Those trades with New Orleans come after the Trail Blazers sent Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Keon Johnson, Eric Bledsoe and Justise Winslow. Powell and Covington were two of Portland’s best shooters and are both gun defenders.

Originally published as Wife devastated as Joe Ingles traded from Utah during NBA shake-up