Minnesota Timberwolves head coach/president Tom Thibodeau met with small forward Jimmy Butler on Monday and tried to convince the four-time All-Star to rejoin the team for preseason action.

Butler reportedly doesn't have a good relationship with big man Karl-Anthony Towns and forward Andrew Wiggins. The 6-foot-7 swingman clashed with both players multiple times last season. Butler had issues with Wiggins' work ethic and approach on defense and felt Towns was more concerned with his individual stats instead of winning games.

The Timberwolves acquired Jimmy Butler last summer from the Chicago Bulls on draft night. In 59 games last season, Butler averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists while shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from 3-point land.

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Butler, 29, suffered a torn right meniscus in late February and underwent surgery. He did return near the end of the season and helped Minnesota make the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. The Timberwolves lost to the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2018 playoffs in five games.

Slated to make $18.7 million this season, Butler has a player option for the 2019-20 season. More money is available to Butler if he plays out his contract and enters the open market in 2019.

Thibodeau doesn't want to coach a young, rebuilding team and wants to figure out a way to get Butler back to the team. Even though Butler is regarded as a top-15 player, the Timberwolves are unlikely to get a good haul for him since they have no leverage.

Butler has really put Thibodeau and the Timberwolves in a tough spot here. Minnesota conducts its first practice on Tuesday.