Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor reportedly ordered team president Tom Thibodeau to trade Jimmy Butler, who is excused from participating in media day and training camp (apparently because of his hand injury).
But Thibodeau isn’t rushing to proclaim Butler will be dealt.
Chris Hine of the StarTribune:
Tom Thibodeau on the trade request from Butler: "Our job is to seek out the best opportunity for us. If something is good for us then we're interested in doing it. If not, we're ready to move the other way."
— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) September 24, 2018
Thibodeau on Butler: "Our job is to acquire the best players we can ... he came in, did his physical, still needs time to finish up his rehab and conditioning so he's probably a week away."
— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) September 24, 2018
Thibodeau on the initial Butler trade: "We knew there was risk involved but any time you get a top 10 player (you have to take it)."
— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) September 24, 2018
Thibodeau said this was the first time Butler made the request and the situation "came to a head."
— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) September 24, 2018
Thibodeau on his relationship with Butler: "He was straightforward. I was straightforward with him. We're good."
— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) September 24, 2018
Thibs' quote was "We won't be pressured into a bad deal."
— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) September 24, 2018
Kent Youngblood of the StarTribune:
JImmy will get a week, Thibs said, for conditioning and rehab. He was asked whether he would be expected to join the team after that time is up and no trade has been consummated, "Yes,'' he said.
— Kent Youngblood (@BloodStrib) September 24, 2018
If Butler isn’t traded in the next week, this could get incredibly awkward. Would Butler report? If he does, how would Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins each react?
I expect this to be moot. The odds are stacked highly in favor of Minnesota dealing Butler soon.
But, now, there’s a close deadline with even more drama looming on the other side.
