Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau may not be ready to accept that he is going to lose one of his best players in the near future, but it has become clear that he can either trade Jimmy Butler now or watch him walk in free agency next summer.
Butler has been staying away from the Timberwolves after he told them he wants to be traded, and Thibodeau reportedly met with the star swingman this week in an attempt to get him to change his mind. According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, Butler left no doubt that his decision has been made — he wants out.
Krawczynski wrote on Tuesday that Butler has been adamant that there is nothing that will convince him to remain in Minnesota and that he “wants out today and will want out tomorrow and the day after that.”
In addition, Krawczynski reports that Butler’s meeting with Thibodeau made him question whether the coach and president of basketball operations is making an actual effort to find a trade partner, and Butler went to T-Wolves owner Glen Taylor for reassurance that the team is engaging in good faith discussions.
Taylor, who has signed off on deals in the past that saw franchise cornerstones Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love traded away, has made it clear that Butler is available. He is apparently convinced that Butler truly wants out and does not want to give off the impression that there is dysfunction or a divide within his organization.
Thibodeau is in a tough spot in that Butler reportedly has specific teams he wants to be traded to, which limits any leverage Minnesota might have. If Thibodeau could convince teams there’s a chance Butler might stay with the Timberwolves, facilitating a deal would be easier. As of now, Butler is not even affording him that luxury.
