The Jimmy Butler saga continues for the Wolves

John LaForest
Staff Writer

Jimmy Butler’s refusal to participate in the Minnesota Timberwolves media day Monday is reassuring his days in Minneapolis are numbered.  

The saga of Jimmy Butler continued late last week when a report came out after a meeting with the head coach, Tom Thibodeau, in Los Angeles that Butler wanted out.

The demand should’ve came to no surprise to the Timberwolves as Butler had started to disassociate himself from the team when he refused to sign an extension.

On September 19, 2018 Jimmy Butler requested a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves after just one season. Butler not only requested the trade, but also came up with a preferred teams list. This list includes the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Clippers.

According to reports, Butler only had one year left on his deal and the list was made for teams who he could possible sign an extension with. 

The teams on his list came as a shock to many fans, players and journalist around the country. All three of those teams missed the playoffs in the 2017-2018 NBA season and Butler in all likelihood will be the only All Star caliber player on the squad.

The list is shocking and comes as a surprise and question to Butler’s character for many fans out there. 

Why does Butler want to get out so bad? The Wolves are coming off their first playoff appearance in over a decade. The team is bringing back the same starters and most of the bench players who are heavily experienced.

The Wolves have enough talent with Jimmy to compete in the Western Conference so the request seems not un basketball related. 

Mutterings have emerged that Butler just doesn’t appear to like Minnesota. Butler is from near the Houston area and previously played for a big market team in the Chicago Bulls. His move could very well be predicated on his desire to be in the spotlight. 

All three of the teams on Butler’s wish list are some of the larger markets in the business. That word is all this seems to be, just business. Being in a bigger market will lead to a bigger financial gain off the court as well as even on the court. 

Butler cannot be blamed for wanting a move and be the holder of his own future, but one questions where his priorities lie. Staying in Minnesota would almost surely guarantee more immediate success than the Clippers, and especially the Nets.

This move for Butler is risky but proves where his faith lies the most, in himself.

Feature photo courtesy of the Associated Press.