Jimmy Butler won’t be at Minnesota Timberwolves camp, at least to start.
According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, the Timberwolves have given Butler permission to skip Monday’s media day as the star guard continues to seek a trade. He will also miss the start of training camp.
Jimmy Butler has been granted permission to not participate in Timberwolves media day on Monday, league sources tell me and @ShamsCharania.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) September 22, 2018
The Timberwolves have also been made aware that Jimmy Butler will not be available for on-court activities at the outset of training camp, sources tell @TheAthleticMIN
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) September 22, 2018
It sounds like Butler was allowed to skip media day, but the camp situation is blurrier. Butler had threatened to skip camp if not traded before it starts, and it looks unlikely he’ll be dealt in time.
Letting Butler skip media day was probably an easy call. The situation will be awkward as it is, but it would’ve been much worse had Butler expected to be present. His absence from camp is a pretty clear sign that he’s willing to try to force Minnesota’s hand on making a deal, which may be why ownership is so motivated to move him over the coaching staff’s objections.
