Minnesota Timberwolves swingman Jimmy Butler has made it clear that he wants to be traded. For a little over 20 days now, NBA fans have heard rumors of where he might be moved, but no deals have come to fruition. Now, according to several reports, the four-time All-Star is setting a deadline.
The Timberwolves have discussed their options with several teams over the last week — most notably the Miami Heat. Some say Wolves head coach Tom Thibodeau is willing to trade Butler, while others feel he would like to find a way to keep his star player. Either way, it seems Butler's relationship with Karl-Anthony Towns is irreparable and the 29-year-old wants out as soon as possible:
New:
To add to reporting by @theathletic, 2 sources tell @5ReasonsSports that Jimmy Butler made it clear in latest meeting with Wolves brass that he wants a deal done by Friday.
There have been artificial deadlines in this thing, for sure. But he and Towns are not fixable.
— Five Reasons Sports (@5ReasonsSports) October 9, 2018
Via ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski:
Minnesota and Miami had been discussing deals that included a third team to take on salary, as well as doing a direct trade between the Timberwolves and Heat, league sources said. Miami had softened on including guard Josh Richardson in versions of a possible deal for Butler, only to recoil once Minnesota pushed late for a sweeter return on the four-time All-Star forward, league sources said.
Butler would be a solid addition for any team in the league. The former Marquette Golden Eagle made 59 appearances with the Timberwolves during their 2017-18 regular-season campaign, racking up averages of 22.2 points on 47.4 percent shooting from the field (35.0 percent from beyond the arc), 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 2.0 steals in 36.7 minutes per outing.
Minnesota's regular-season opener is less than 10 days away. Will Butler's trade request be granted this time, or will he be suiting up in Minnesota for another season? Returning to the Timberwolves would be incredibly awkward, so a deal still seems more likely than that.
Follow Us
Subscribe