Wolves fans shouldn’t freak out about Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler has turned down a massive contract offer from the Timberwolves, but there’s no reason for Minnesota fans to start panicking.
The Minnesota Timberwolves made Jimmy Butler the biggest contract offer they could this week, but unfortunately the talented shooting guard has declined their proposal. That, in and of itself, is not a reason for Wolves fans to start panicking about his future with the team.
The team offered Butler a 4-year, $110 million contract extension, but he won’t be inking that deal anytime soon. Instead, he’ll take his chances next summer. It’s possible he can sign a five-year maximum deal with the Wolves that would pay him $190 million over five years if all goes well. Even if he elects to leave the team, he should be in line to sign a four-year deal that would pay him $141 million.
Wolves fans have been on high alert about Butler ever since reports surfaced that he might want to form a super team with Kyrie Irving in the future. There have also been rumblings that Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns aren’t exactly the best of friends. Despite those concerns, Minnesota fans should remember that Butler and coach Tom Thibodeau have a long-standing, close relationship. That could be the team’s ace in the hole when it comes to his free agency next summer.
#Twolves All-Star Jimmy Butler has officially turned down the Wolves' 4-year, $110M range extension offer, per owner Glen Taylor. Full interview posting soon, which includes stuff on KAT extension talks, Thibs, filling out the roster, and #LosLynx.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) July 13, 2018
It’s still shaping up to be a big season for the entire Timberwolves organization. If they can take a step forward and become a legitimate title contender, their chances of keeping this team for years to come will increase dramatically. If, on the other hand, they remain on the fringes of the Western Conference race, it could easily lead the front office to blow things up and try again this summer.
If that happens, Butler is the most likely player to be shipped out. He’s got a lot of miles on his tires and it’s highly unlikely his minutes are going to drop playing for Thibs. The team might be smart to move him before they’re faced with the prospect of paying him big money into his mid-30s.
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No matter what, Wolves fans don’t need to get worked up about the guard’s decision to turn down his latest extension offer. That call was purely financial. There’s too much money available for him next summer to accept a below-market extension at the moment.