The scheduled meeting between NBA star Jimmy Butler and the Minnesota Timberwolves is something to monitor since it could very well decide who comes and who goes. Butler has not exactly panned out both on and off the court with the franchise and the majority believe that the 29-year-old is on his way out.
This development comes a bit of a surprise considering the swingman was expected to blossom under coach Tom Thibodeau. Together with familiar faces like Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson, most were expecting Butler to pick up from where he left off when they were all still with the Chicago Bulls.
This was with the assumption that all could get along with resident stars such as Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. Apparently, that has not happened and the meeting is likely to have that on the agenda.
Thibodeau finds himself in the pressure cooker to mend fences. The word out is that Butler has not keenly gotten along with the rising young T-Wolves. According to Shams Charania of the Athletic, the three have butted heads throughout last season backing claims that the relationships from within have deteriorated.
It remains to be seen if a quick fix can be done by Thibodeau. One person who will closely monitor the progress is team owner Glen Taylor. Together with general manager Scott Layden, the aftermath of the meeting plus the performance of the T-Wolves this coming season will more or less dictate if a change will be needed moving forward, ESPN said.
With Butler in the middle of all the heat, Minnesota could be forced to either let him walk or dangle him to other teams via NBA trade. Butler is in the final season of his contract and expected to be among the big names next year in free agency. With his caliber, several teams could make a play for the 30th overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft like the Los Angeles Lakers – a team that Butler wanted to sign with four years ago, SB Nation said.
If Thibodeau manages to find a fix, it may only be temporary. Being on the final season of his contract with Minnesota, the T-Wolves are likely to assess their chances of keeping him as well as the harmony from within.
Should friction remain, the T-Wolves could pull off some trades. It could be Butler, Towns and/or Wiggins – all depending on how Minnesota performs. Seeing how they were able to advance last season without an injured Jimmy Butler, the obvious choice is to trade him before the trade deadline or let him finish the season with nothing in return.
