Jimmy Butler’s situation with the Minnesota Timberwolves came to a head Friday night, according to reports.
On Friday night, the Timberwolves concluded a five-game road trip with a 121-110 loss to the Sacramento Kings, ensuring an 0-5 record on the trip. That apparently was enough to convince coach and president Tom Thibodeau that Butler was dragging down the team and causing dysfunction and decided then and there that Butler would never play for Minnesota again.
After winless 5-game road trip that ended with loss Sacramento on Friday night, Tom Thibodeau had come to realization that the Wolves couldn't win with Butler in this dysfunctional environment, sources said. He told associates that Minny wouldn't play another game with Butler.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 10, 2018
Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times further said that one Timberwolves player had described the locker room as a “soap opera” earlier in the week.
After their loss to the Clippers earlier in the week, one Timberwolves player told me the locker room was a “soap opera.” https://t.co/KfYG3fDIVs
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) November 10, 2018
Despite a whole lot of public speculation and controversial commentary, it seemed that Thibodeau was willing to put up with Butler’s idiosyncrasies as long as the team could win with him. The road trip convinced him that they could not, and he was dealt to Philadelphia less than a day later.
