Ingles Says Goodbye, Snyder Discusses New Additions

SALT LAKE CITY – Joe and Renae Ingles took to Twitter to share their thoughts on today’s trade that sent the Utah Jazz guard to the Portland Trail Blazers.

In return, the Jazz got young guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and veteran big man Juancho Hernangomez.

Ingles weighed in the move ahead of Thursday’s 3 pm ET deadline.

“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!” 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 ❤️

— Joe Ingles (@Joeingles7) February 10, 2022

“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 spent eight seasons in Utah after being waived by the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2014 preseason.

Ingles and his wife Renae built a family during their time in Utah, including the birth of their twins Jacob and Mila, and recently their son Jack in 2020.

Renae also shared his thanks for the Jazz organization on Twitter.

“Appreciate the love & support- from near and far,” Renae wrote. “Today is so sad. I don’t have the words to put together just yet. Incredibly grateful for the last 8years here as part of the Jazz family & Utah community. Focus is Joe’s knee & rehab. Deeply saddened, & thankful for you all xxx.”

Appreciate the love & support- from near and far. Today is so sad. I don’t have the words to put together just yet. Incredibly grateful for the last 8years here as part of the Jazz family &Utah community. Focus is Joe’s knee & rehab. Deeply saddened, & thankful for you all xxx

— Renae Ingles (@RenaeIngles) February 10, 2022

The Ingles have been an active part of the Utah community, including working to develop better awareness for individuals on the autism spectrum and those with sensory processing needs.

Jazz coach Quin Snyder also shared his thoughts before the team hosted the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

“Today is a tough day with Joe — Joe’s situation. I can’t really articulate how much that he’s meant to our organization and to myself personally,” Snyder said.

“His presence and the people he’s touched, the things that he did on the court, and as much as anything the things that he did for the fabric of our organization. Personally, I’ll always be grateful for him.”

Snyder Discusses New Additions

The trade for Alexander-Walker and Hernangomez was made official Wednesday night which allowed Snyder to discuss the team’s new additions even before they’d arrived in Utah.

Alexander-Walker averaged 12.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 26 minutes with the Pelicans this season, but struggled the shoot the ball. The guard knocked down just 37 percent of his field-goal attempts and 31 percent of his threes.

“His length, his ability to make a shot, there’s a skillset there,” Snyder said of the Jazz newest guard. “He has some tools. The emphasis again is if he can  come in and have an impact defensively, that’s something we’re constantly telling our whole team and he does have the length and size.”

What does Nickeil Alexander-Walker offer the @utahjazz, and is there hope for his shooting?#TakeNote https://t.co/TPxosVxH6K

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 9, 2022

Alexander-Walker measured in at 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-9.5 inch wingspan before being drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019.

Hernangomez brings a different type of size to the Jazz roster, standing 6-foot-9 as the newest face in the team’s frontcourt.

The forward has averaged 5.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in five seasons in the league, but has played sparingly since suiting up for both the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs this season.

“I’ve always followed international basketball, even when Ricky [Rubio] was here and seeing him play on the Spanish National Team and when he was in Denver,” Snyder said of Hernangomez. “[He has] size, he’s made shots,” Snyder said.

Hernangomez is a career 34 percent three-point shooter on 2.4 attempts per game.

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