Jimmy Butler's request to be traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves seemed to have rather odd timing, taking place merely a week before the start of training camp when he and longtime coach Tom Thibodeau met in late September to iron out their differences. The trade left little time for the front office to operate, forcing Butler to be excused from training camp as trade conversations went underway.

According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Butler had requested the trade back in early August after undergoing a minor surgery on his right shooting hand. Yet after coach and player met in Los Angeles, their recollections about what had been said couldn’t have been more different.

Butler, known to be rather blunt in conversation, believed he had made his desire to be shipped out of Minnesota quite clear. But Thibodeau, who has been known to be quite the stubborn individual himself, swears he didn’t see it that way, hoping the situation could be mended at some point through the season.

Butler's desire to be traded right before training camp has left a somewhat diva-like taste in fans' mouths, giving ownership no time or leverage to make a trade happen.

This would also explain why Thibodeau is in such murky waters with ownership, given that his decision to ignore that request is what put the Timberwolves in such a precarious situation.

The dual-hatter now finds himself stuck, likely to receive much less compensation for his All-Star cog than he would have earlier in the offseason.