The Jimmy Butler saga with the Minnesota Timberwolves just keeps getting worse and worse as the days go by.
According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, it's increasingly likely Butler told the Timberwolves he didn't want to be on the team anymore earlier this offseason, and the franchise just didn't listen.
Butler has reportedly requested a trade from Minnesota, and his request is coming at an odd time. Training camp starts next week for the Timberwolves.
Among the things reported in this piece: Tuesday was not the first time Butler made it clear to Thibodeau that he didn't see a long-term future in Minnesota. https://t.co/OvTFCvbWn4
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) September 21, 2018
If what Krawczynski is reporting is true, this is a bad look for Tom Thibodeau and the rest of the Timberwolves' front office. If your star player is telling you he doesn't want to play for the franchise anymore, you need to start doing your due diligence the minute he tells you, and figure out how to maximize the situation.
Thibodeau, who is the president and head coach, should have started to make trade calls when Butler initially told him he wanted out.
The Timberwolves are in a really tough spot right now. Media day is on September 24, and it's hard to envision a scenario where Butler is present. The four-time All-Star clearly has issues with small forward Andrew Wiggins and big man Karl-Anthony Towns, and it would just be an awkward scene if Butler is there when everyone knows he wants out.
Jimmy Butler averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game during the regular season last year. He shot 47.4 percent from the field, 35.0 percent from 3, and 85.4 percent from the free-throw line. The 29-year-old can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2019 if he declines his 2019-20 player option.
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