Here ya go lagoon
Jimmy Butler has drawn his line in the sand amid the Minnesota Timberwolves’ internal battles and took his situation into his own hands. From Chicago to Minnesota, Butler brought with him an edge, a relenting push, and he’s had an ally in Tom Thibodeau, an equally hard-charging coach. They helped carry the Timberwolves to the team’s first postseason in 14 years, helped bring a winning culture — until it began to crater among contractual issues and personalities.
After weeks of seriously contemplating his future in Minnesota, Butler requested a trade from the Timberwolves and informed Thibodeau of his decision on Tuesday in a meeting in Los Angeles, league sources told The Athletic. Players within the locker room first began to hear whispers of Butler’s plans last week, according to sources. Butler has given the Timberwolves a list of teams that could interest him. The Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers are expected as desired destination, and could extend to the Miami Heat and others, sources said. He’s long held a level of desire to potentially play in Los Angeles, a scenario those around him discussed internally as a Bulls free agent in 2015.
His career in Minnesota intertwines so much with Thibodeau, with the move Thibodeau made to trade Lauri Markkanen, Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn for Butler looming over the franchise now. Butler is a four-time All-Star and one of the best players on this team, and Butler’s predicament means finding value for him now or risk losing him for nothing. In their meeting Tuesday, Thibodeau made clear that he resisted a trade of Butler, and wanted to see their partnership through, league sources said.
Rival executives believe a Butler trade could be inevitable this season, with Minnesota clearly tilting toward favoring its future around young star Karl-Anthony Towns. For Butler, the trade request largely derived from differences with the Timberwolves: Butler had hoped for a full five-year maximum contract this summer, more than the four-year, $110 million max they could offer. The Golden State Warriors surely offered their two All-Stars — Klay Thompson and Draymond Green — similar deals due to salary cap constraints to do more, but similar to Butler it behooves them to wait until next summer. It was insensible for Minnesota to clear the amount of contracts necessary, potentially multiple rotation players, just to extend Butler.
Butler had a private meeting with Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor late last season prior to his return from his torn meniscus in early April, sources said, and it’s unclear what kind of commitment, or lack thereof, came of it. For Butler, the desire for a five-year max contract worth a likely $190 million with a new team plays a strong role in his desire to part with Minnesota now versus next summer. He would be eligible for a four-year, $140 million deal with another team if he has to enter free agency.
Still, asking out five days before Minnesota’s media day places an unfair pressure on the organization and brings unlikelihood to a trade before next week. Superstar trades can take weeks to develop, machinations changing each week, and the Kawhi Leonard trade took over a month from the time of his trade request.
Brooklyn and the Clippers appear motivated on Butler, while the Knicks have been firm all summer that the team does not want to part with assets and instead prioritize signing free agents outright, according to sources. The Timberwolves spent the entire offseason turning down any discussion or inquiry on Butler — and now would be wise to target controllable contracts and assets in any trade.
“The price on [Butler] is difficult to pay now, when you can wait and sign him in July,” one team executive told The Athletic, regarding Butler hoping to be traded to a specific destination.
The Boston Celtics have plenty of assets, but do not have a real need because of the return of Gordon Hayward from injury. Philadelphia has been motivated to add a third star all offseason and could kick the tires on a Butler deal.
Towns is an immense talent, a modern-day center able to shoot 3-pointers and play finesse with an inside game. Butler hasn’t found strong momentum alongside Towns and Andrew Wiggins, the Timberwolves’ two maximum salary-level talents.
Butler sat with me inside a gym in San Diego during training camp last season, when his leadership quest for these Timberwolves had just begun. He rose from the No. 30 pick in 2011 to a maximum contract player, and the edginess and expectations of those around him increased too. He and Thibodeau had made clear their aspirations for the young Timberwolves.
“Do it right,” Butler told me last fall. “That’s the only way we’re going to win. When we spend time together, that’s what our time together is for. To get all of the terrible [expletive] habits out of the way. We have to be ready for what’s really coming.
“I’m never OK with that, and that should never be OK with anybody associated with me or this organization. Nobody cares about how young you are in this league. The culture that Thibs wants is not difficult: He wants you to play hard, he wants you to talk, and he wants you to guard. That’s all effort, the will to want to do it. If you want to do it, you will. If you don’t, you won’t. And it won’t fly, and you won’t play.”
Now, it remains to to be seen — will Butler play for the Timberwolves again?
― The Desus & Mero Chain (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 19 September 2018 23:17 (five years ago) link