Report: Jimmy Butler could skip training camp if not traded

The situation between Jimmy Butler and the Minnesota Timberwolves appears to have the potential to get very ugly on both sides.

Butler has demanded a trade, but with the Timberwolves appearing resistant, there is a chance he will escalate things in the week to come. Sources told Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic that Butler could fail to report to training camp if the Timberwolves do not trade him before it opens.

The Timberwolves are slated to hold their media day on Sept. 24. Considering the team is rebuffing all attempts to open trade talks, it looks unlikely that the Butler situation will have any resolution by that point.

Butler’s trade request came very late in the offseason and appears to have blindsided Minnesota. Butler is entering the final season of his contract and wants to be traded now so his next team will have his Bird rights, enabling them to offer him a max contract for more money.

The timing couldn’t be much worse, and it looks like it’s going to get much worse before it gets better.