Will The Jimmy Butler Trade Happen? Guard's Reps Frustrated With Wolves Hierarchy

Jimmy Butler’s potential trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves continues to make headlines, but is no closer to completion with the player’s representatives reportedly frustrated with the franchise’s inability to agree a deal.

The four-time All-Star requested a trade from the Wolves in September, and while coach Tom Thibodeau is keen to keep Butler, they are listening to offers from interested teams.

It was initially reported the Los Angeles Clippers were Butler’s preferred choice, but it emerged the Miami Heat was his new choice. Apart from the two aforementioned teams, the Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Brooklyn Nets are said to be monitoring the situation.

However, despite all the interest from multiple franchises there has been no progress — at least that’s what Butler’s representatives seem to think. According to the Athletic’s Sam Amick, the Wolves guard’s agents are frustrated and a considering the possibility the team are not interested in finding a deal.

The Minnesota franchise’s demands for quality veterans, top prospects and salary-cap relief are said to be putting off interested teams, which is in turn angering Butler’s representatives.

“According to league sources, Butler and his representatives are increasingly frustrated with Minnesota’s handling of trade talks and seriously question whether the Timberwolves — from longtime owner Glen Taylor on down — are truly trying to find a deal,” Amick said, as quoted on the Express.

“All across the NBA, with more than half the league having shown varying levels of interest in landing the four-time All-Star, the feedback coming Butler’s way remains the same: Minnesota’s asking price is far too high, inter-team communication is sometimes an exercise in futility, and the counter-offers that the Timberwolves have provided are, as Butler’s side sees it, downright delusional,” he added.

However, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski believes there are conflicting approaches as general manager Scott Layden is turning down trade requests for Butler, but has been instructed by owner Taylor to ensure he takes calls from interested franchises in the interest of finding the right deal that will benefit Minnesota.

But with just two weeks remaining until the start of the new season it remains to be seen if Butler will get his wish of a move away from the Target Center.

“Thibodeau’s general manager, Scott Layden, had been shutting down trade inquires for Butler in recent days, and Taylor has demanded that Layden not only take calls on potential deals, but reach out to initiate conversations, league sources said. This is all really...unique,” Wojnarowski said.

Meanwhile, it is being reported that Butler — who missed the Wolves’ first pre-season game against the Golden State Warriors as he pushes for a move — has been training in the team’s facility while they are on the road for their pre-season games.

“While the Wolves have been away on the West Coast, Jimmy Butler has been at the practice facility daily working out. Wolves return Thursday,” the Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski said.