The Minnesota Timberwolves have shut down recent trade conversations for All-Star forward Jimmy Butler, telling teams he's an elite player and that they plan to keep him, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Owner Glen Taylor is expected to be a major factor in deciding when and if Butler will be moved, as he did with former franchise stars Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love.
Butler had recently lined up a list of three specific teams — the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, and L.A. Clippers — the latter taking his utmost preference. Yet, the Timberwolves don't stand to get equal trade value, as any team inquiring will offer much less than what Butler is truly worth, knowing the Wolves will have to trade him to avoid a locker room chaos.
As it sits, all three teams would prefer to acquire Butler as a free agent, given the $50 million they would save if they decide to give him a max-level offer in the summer of 2019. The Knicks, Nets and Clippers were handpicked by Butler as they are three teams capable of signing him to a five-year, $190 million deal next season as a free agent, but that situation changes if he stays in Minnesota, opts out (losing his Bird rights) and signs with another team, standing to make only $140 million as an unrestricted free agent.
Karl-Anthony Towns, who has recently put his contract extension talks on hold until Butler's situation is dealt with, could potentially forego the possibility of signing the deal with the team if Butler stays, making this a nightmare scenario for the Wolves in which they could potentially miss out of not one, but two stars, if Butler remains with the team the entire season.