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Jimmy Butler has requested a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic first reported that the NBA All-Star has requested a trade from the organization:
Jimmy Butler has requested a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves, league sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski. Butler has given Minnesota a list of one-to-three teams with whom he's open to signing extension, in anticipation of trade.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 19, 2018
Butler and head coach Tom Thibodeau reportedly met today to discuss their future together in Minnesota.
Jon Krawczynski added that time is of the essence, with training camp starting next week:
Tom Thibodeau has been resistant to the idea of trading Butler, we're told. With media day on Monday and training camp set to being on Tuesday, the clock is ticking.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) September 19, 2018
Butler reportedly has a list of one-to-three teams that he would sign an extension with next summer. He’s scheduled to make $20.4 million in the coming season with a player option for $19.8 million in 2019-20.
Butler joined the Timberwolves in the summer of 2017, traded by the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Lauri Markkanen, Zach LaVine, and Kris Dunn. He averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists for Minnesota while being named to the NBA All-Star squad for the fourth consecutive year.
Do you think the Trail Blazers should make a play for the disgruntled star? Let us know in the comments.
Update:
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN has a bead on Butler’s preferred teams.
Minnesota's Jimmy Butler has three preferred destinations for a trade, league sources tell ESPN: The Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks. Those three teams have max cap space to sign Butler as a free agent in July.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 19, 2018