Fansided

Report: ‘Fed up’ Jimmy Butler ready to move on from Timberwolves

By Isaac Gutierrez

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 25: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts in the second half during Game Five of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on April 25, 2018 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 25: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts in the second half during Game Five of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on April 25, 2018 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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Yet another NBA Star appears to be ready to play for a new team as Jimmy Butler reportedly has no intentions of returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In an offseason that has already seen several major stars dramatically alter the hierarchy of the NBA by taking their talents to a new home, the league’s next major domino may soon be falling into place. All-Star guard Jimmy Butler has “no intentions” of returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves after his current deal concludes, as reported by Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.

This decision reportedly comes as a result of his displeasure with the attitudes of his young teammates, with this report specifically naming Karl Anthony-Towns. This comes just several weeks after it came out that Butler was “uncertain” about playing with fellow Minnesota Timberwolves teammate Andrew Wiggins.

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With it now being reported that Wiggins is unhappy with both of the team’s young stars, Butler’s days in Minnesota appear to be numbered.

Butler is coming off a season in which he played some of the best basketball of his career, leading the Timberwolves to as high as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference before suffering a meniscus injury that sidelined him for more than 20 games.

The team’s play dramatically declined without the presence of Butler, making it apparent that the team’s success is solely reliant on his all-star level of production. Things could get gloomy for the franchise if Butler is to jump ship after next season. The team managed to secure the No. 8 last season, not securing their playoff spot until the very last game of the season. This playoff appearance snapped a 14-year long postseason drought for the Timberwolves.

With the Western Conference getting stronger by the day, if Butler is to walk in free agency the Wolves could find themselves falling right back into the state they were in before he arrived — a team on the outside looking in of the playoffs.

It is detrimental to the team’s future that they work to repair their seemingly fractured relationship with Butler. If this is a relationship that proves to be past the point of reconciliation, they may be forced to trade Butler at or before next season’s trade deadline. This would ensure that Butler does not walk away for nothing, leaving them in a worse position then before they acquired him.

Butler could be this season’s Lamarcus Aldridge, a player who made his displeasure with his team known but was able to repair his relationship with the team enough to avoid a trade, or he could this year’s Paul George and find himself dealt in the coming months. Only time will tell.

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