Last month it was reported that Jimmy Butler was unhappy with his younger teammate Karl-Anthony Towns and that he was looking for a way to hookup with Kyrie Irving on another team.
A league source close to the situation told the Sun-Times on Tuesday that Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving and former Bulls All-Star Jimmy Butler — who’s been playing with the Timberwolves since a draft-night trade in 2017 — are still trying to figure out a way to play together. The Celtics could try to acquire Butler this summer, or the two former Team USA teammates could simply opt out of their player options after next season and join forces then. Their intent is to build an elite backcourt, whether that’s in Boston or somewhere else in the East.
The situation remains fluid. Irving has already said he won’t be signing a contract extension with the Celtics this summer. A league source said Butler, who has been frustrated with the nonchalant attitudes of younger teammates — specifically Karl-Anthony Towns — does not intend to sign an extension with the Timberwolves.
Today, Butler met with TimberWolves head coach Tom Thibodeau and reportedly told him he wanted to be traded.
Jimmy Butler has requested a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves, league sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski. Butler has given Minnesota a list of one-to-three teams with whom he's open to signing extension, in anticipation of trade.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 19, 2018
Less than one week before Timberwolves' training camp begins. After weeks of contemplating future in Minnesota, Butler informed Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday, sources said. https://t.co/0n882h9l1t
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 19, 2018
Tom Thibodeau has been resistant to the idea of trading Butler, we're told. With media day on Monday and training camp set to being on Tuesday, the clock is ticking.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) September 19, 2018
Minnesota's Jimmy Butler has three preferred destinations for a trade, league sources tell ESPN: The Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks. Those three teams have max cap space to sign Butler as a free agent in July.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/FusaroESPN
Wiggins' brother 👀 pic.twitter.com/ITJt4NaghX
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 19, 2018
As of now the list of teams hasn’t been revealed but Butler, who is in the final year of his contract, can force a trade to basically wherever he wants because no team is going to want to trade for a one-year rental.
NBA fans are now speculating which three teams Butler wants to go to.
Waiting to see who the three teams on Jimmy Butler’s list are… pic.twitter.com/bEvJ2sZf92
— NickyBeaster (@NickyBeaster) September 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/World_Wide_Wob/status/1042473670214606850
Watch the three teams be:
1. Golden State
2. Warriors
3. Golden State Warriors https://t.co/I2HbtJ5J3I— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) September 19, 2018