While Jimmy Butler still wants to be traded, the Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly planning to start the season with the guard on the roster, according to Jon Krawczynski of the Athletic.
Butler was at the team facility Monday and “reiterated his desire to be traded” to head coach Tom Thibodeau. However, the organization hasn’t been able to find an adequate deal, keeping him in town until something changes, via Bleacher Report.
Thibodeau originally gave Butler the opportunity to stay away from the team while the situation sorted itself out, and he hasn’t practiced with the squad since the Sept. 25 start of training camp. With time running out before the start of the season on Oct. 17, however, he is expected to return.
The Timberwolves were originally hoping for a quick trade, as “mandated” by team owner Glen Taylor. However, Minnesota’s asking price has remained steep for the four-time All-Star and the front office hasn’t given in to lower offers.
Minnesota could have landed Josh Richardson and a protected first-round pick from the Miami Heat if they accepted the Heat’s reported offer, as reported by Bleacher Report. According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, Richardson and the pick “headlined” the package Miami offered Minnesota for Butler before “talks collapsed twice.”
Stein suggested “Minnesota really can’t hope to do better under these dire circumstances” after Butler made it clear he doesn’t want to play for the team, but the Timberwolves didn’t accept the offer. Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise Butler is still with Minnesota considering Glen Taylor is known for “legendary indecisiveness.”
Stein went as far as to say Taylor “risks alienating Miami to the point that the Heat czar Pat Riley pushes away from the table.”
While Butler might not want to play another minute with Minnesota, he might not have a choice.