The Minnesota Timberwolves are at a crossroads with Jimmy Butler and Tom Thibodeau needs to make a decision. The beleaguered star wants out of town and he's attempting to force his way to another team by way of a trade.
But whether or not Thibodeau engages with teams in trade talks is murky. According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic:
“In canvassing the league, there are a number of teams interested in Jimmy Butler. Not all of them would need assurances that Butler will sign long-term. Still unsure if Thibs will change stance and start engaging in trade talks.”
Thibodeau is caught in a sticky situation. It's obvious that Butler does not fit well with Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. But while a Butler trade looks imminent, Thibs has given no indication that he's willing to shop Butler around. Butler and Thibodeau's relationship stretches back to their days in Chicago and the fiery leader of the Timberwolves could work to keep Butler in Minnesota — at least for one more season.
Things change quickly in the NBA. If the Wolves can't find a suitable trading partner for Butler within the next month, they'll have no choice but to play the All-Star. And if Thibodeau isn't even engaging teams in trade talks, that only means the clock is ticking.
The disgruntled Butler has made his position abundantly clear. Now the world must wait for Thibodeau to make the next move. This story will continue to develop with each passing day and it's undoubtedly the biggest storyline heading into the 2018-19 season.
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