Where Jimmy Butler plays his next regular-season game is still a toss-up. The All-Star wants out of Minnesota and he's looking to cash in on his upcoming free agency. This comes from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:
Butler, 30, wants the five-year, $190 million maximum extension that could come with a trade to a new team, but there is some reluctance to teams to commit $40 million-plus annually as Butler reaches his mid-30's, league sources told ESPN.
He can sign the 5-year, $190 million with the Timberwolves next summer if he isn't traded, or he can sign a four-year, $141M deal with a new team.
Butler is one of the premier players in the NBA. He's a legitimate star who plays hard on both ends of the floor and seems obsessed with winning. He fits the bill of a max-contract player, but teams might be reluctant to invest this much money in Butler.
He's coming off an injury-plagued season and like Wojnarowski points out, he'll reach his mid-30s during his next contract. A potential max deal for Butler could turn out poorly for a team if he breaks down a few years into the deal.
Additionally, Butler isn't the easiest player to deal with, as evidenced by his recent request for a trade. Of course, he is acting in his best interests and it's hard to fault him for that. But he doesn't seem to mesh well with younger players, which could be another red flag for teams.
Butler's situation is fluid, but it definitely seems like a change of scenery is on the horizon for the star.
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