Report: Jimmy Butler's Frustration with T-Wolves 'At an All Time High'
With trade talks with the Miami Heat seemingly stalled, Jimmy Butler's frustration with the Minnesota Timberwolves has reportedly grown to an "all-time high."
Stefano Fusaro of ESPN reported Butler has grown increasingly annoyed with how the T-Wolves are handling his trade request.
"Are they truly trying to get a deal done? Or is this just more smoke and mirrors?" an executive asked Fusaro.
Coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau has been pushing for reconciliation since Butler formally requested a trade last month. The T-Wolves have remained in negotiations with teams under an edict from owner Glen Taylor to trade Butler, with the Heat emerging as a top suitor.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the T-Wolves and Heat were close on a trade over the weekend until Minnesota tried to adjust terms. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald spoke to a Heat source who said the T-Wolves were asking for "the first born of all our kids.”
Wojnarowski previously reported Minnesota has asked for Josh Richardson, Bam Adebayo and a 2019 first-round pick in exchange for Butler. The All-Star swingman requested a trade from the Timberwolves last month and has informed Thibodeau he will not re-sign with the club when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.
"It's not the first time a player has made that type of request, nor will it be the last, and our job is to seek out the best opportunity for us," Thibodeau told reporters. "If something's good for us, then we're interested in doing it. If not, then we're ready to move forward the other way."
Thibodeau's desire to keep Butler has led to some wondering how seriously he's attempting to honor the trade request. The coach led Minnesota to its first playoff appearance in more than a decade last season and is not the type to take steps backward. Regardless of the potential package for Butler, the T-Wolves will likely take a step back and miss the postseason, barring a leap from Andrew Wiggins.
With the regular season just a week away from getting started, all parties are running out of time to get a deal done.
