All-Star forward Jimmy Butler has returned to Minnesota and once again informed the Timberwolves of his desire to be traded, according to Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Butler, who was away from the team during their West Coast trip, had yet to return to Minnesota, now forced to fly back and make his desire known to president/head coach Tom Thibodeau once again, given how slowly talks have moved with inquiring teams.

This is now the fourth time Butler has approached team management to inform them of his desire to be out of the Twin Cities by the time the regular season starts. Butler has been excused off his Media Day responsibilities as well as training camp and preseason games due to a wrist injury.

Butler initially told Thibodeau of his desire to be traded in August, but the request went rather unheard by the old-school coach, forcing another meeting a week before the start of the season at his home in Los Angeles. Butler then went to owner Glen Taylor personally after Thibodeau had a last-ditch effort meeting with him prior to Media Day, hopeful he could play out the season before facing reporters.

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The Texas native has been utterly frustrated with how the Timberwolves' brass has handled his trade request, as many teams feel the front office is asking for too steep a price in return for his services.

Recently, the Timberwolves trade talks with the Miami Heat stalled after Minnesota demanded more in return, hellbent on acquiring three-and-D specialist Josh Richardson.