NBA Rumors: Jimmy Butler Unhappy With Timberwolves' Teammates, Won't Sign Contract Extension

Another NBA All-Star might be unhappy as he approaches unrestricted free agency in a year.

Kawhi Leonard has made it clear that he wants to be traded by the San Antonio Spurs before his contract concludes at the end of the 2018-2019 season. Jimmy Butler hasn’t made such a demand, but the shooting guard reportedly won’t make any immediate commitment to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Butler has “no intentions” of signing a contract extension with Minnesota. The report claims that the veteran is “fed up” with the attitude of Karl-Anthony Towns and other teammates.

Cowley notes that Butler and Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving want to play together. The two friends will both be without contracts in the summer of 2019 when plenty of teams will have salary cap space.

There are no reports of the Timberwolves looking to trade Butler this offseason, but it might not be too long before the 28-year-old finds himself at the center of trade rumors. Unhappy star players that are on the cusp of free agency are often dealt.

Just look at Paul George, whom the Indiana Pacers sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder a year ago when it became clear that the team would lose the forward this summer in free agency. Leonard is a top-five player when healthy, and all indications are the Spurs will trade him because the two-time Defensive Player of the Year no longer wants to be in San Antonio. Even Irving was traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers a year after he hit the biggest shot in franchise history.

Again, Butler hasn’t asked to be traded. But it’s a situation worth monitoring, especially for teams that hope to add another star player before next season begins.

Leonard is on the trade market. The Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly interested in acquiring the former NBA Finals MVP, though neither one currently seems willing to meet San Antonio’s asking price. Could one of them try to pry Butler away from Minnesota instead?

The 76ers might be better off trying to trade for Butler if he ever becomes available. They’d probably have a better chance of re-signing him than Leonard, who has his eyes on going to L.A. in 2019.

Butler is a notch below Leonard, though he’s arguably a top-10 player. Even after playing just 59 games because of a knee injury, Butler was an All-NBA Third Team selection for the second straight year. He made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for the fourth time in five years while contributing 22.2 points on 15.6 shots per game.

Perhaps the Lakers would consider trading for Butler if he became available and Minnesota’s asking price is less than San Antonio’s. LeBron James dragged a Cavs’ team with Kevin Love as Cleveland's second player to the NBA Finals. Putting Butler on the Lakers probably wouldn’t be enough to dethrone the Golden State Warriors, but it might make Los Angeles the West’s second-best team next year.

The odds are that Butler will play out the season in Minnesota. The Timberwolves looked like they might land the No.3 seed last season before the guard got hurt in the middle of the season, and they’ll look to win a lot of games with a healthy starting lineup in 2018-2019.

Then again, it wasn't long ago that the idea of San Antonio trading Leonard seemed impossible. ​