Jimmy Butler met with Minnesota Timberwolves head coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau this week, and the star swingman reportedly made it clear that he wants to be traded. Will the team shoot down his request in hopes of changing his mind?
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, team executives who have called the Timberwolves to discuss trades have been told Butler is not going anywhere.
Story filed to ESPN: Rival executives lobbing calls to Minnesota’s front office on possibility of trading for Jimmy Butler are getting inquires shut down. Minnesota is telling teams that Butler’s an elite player and franchise intends to keep him.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 21, 2018
Wojnarowski adds that Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor will be heavily involved in deciding whether to trade Butler, which was the case when former franchise cornerstones Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love were dealt.
Butler can opt out of his contract after next season, so Minnesota’s supposed refusal to trade him could be nothing more than posturing. With numerous reports indicating that Butler wants out and has given the Timberwolves a short list of teams he wants to play for, it will be hard for Thibodeau and the rest of Minnesota’s front office to establish any leverage in trade discussions.
If Butler is set on leaving the Timberwolves, it makes sense to get something for him now. Like we saw with the Kawhi Leonard situation in San Antonio and Kyrie Irving in Cleveland, the player typically gets what he wants.
