Timberwolves’ All-Star Jimmy Butler Seeking a Trade to Nets, Clippers or Knicks

Jimmy Butler during an NBA All-Star Game in 2017
Jimmy Butler during an NBA All-Star Game in 2017. Photo by Stephen Lew/CSM/REX/Shutterstock

When Minnesota Timberwolves brought in Jimmy Butler last summer in a blockbuster trade with Chicago Bulls, they hoped that they would be able to sign him to a long-term contract extension. It looks like that won’t be the case since Butler reportedly wants out even before he becomes a free agent.

According to various sources around the league, Jimmy Butler and Timberwolves coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau met in Los Angeles on Tuesday where Butler asked to be traded. His preferred destinations include Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks, but he could expand his list depending on the market and team’s willingness to give him a five-year, $190 million deal.

While Butler openly told the Timberwolves organization that he doesn’t want to start the season in Minnesota, the team is currently determined to keep the 29-year-old for at least one more year.

Although it recently came up that Jimmy Butler is unhappy with the Minnesota Timberwolves because he doesn’t get along with team’s young star Karl-Anthony Towns, that isn’t the reason for the trade request according to sources. Instead, Butler cites his desire to play a central role in a big market team.

After his NBA career took on a slow start, Jimmy Butler ended up establishing himself as one of the league’s premier two-way players with the Chicago Bulls. He was named NBA All-Star in each of the previous four seasons while receiving four NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors, and being two-time All-NBA Third Team honoree.

After Bulls decided to go down the rebuilding route, Butler was traded to the Timberwolves in exchange for Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine and the No. 7 overall pick in 2017 NBA Draft that became Lauri Markkanen.
In his lone season in Minnesota, Butler averaged 22.2 points, 3.4 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game.

Ben loves sports so much but prefers watching other people do it. He prefers not to share what teams he's supporting but he is willing to admit that Lebron James is, in fact, the king.