Jimmy Butlers a silent assassin, one of the coolest cats in the business, but his desire to win and his intensity on the court cant be questioned. Reports say Butler’s fed up with Timberwolves nonchalant young players and has no intentions of signing an extension.
mnsportnews on Twitter
Jimmy Butler reportedly has no intention of signing contract extension, and is ‘fed up’ with nonchalant attitudes from teammates. #AllEyesNorth
Butler was acquired from Chicago for Lauri Markkanen, Zach LaVine, and Kris Dunn during the 2017 NBA Draft. The silky smooth, 28-year-old shooting guard/small forward averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game in 59 games in his first season with the Timberwolves.
ESPN says Butler is specifically referring to Big KAT Karl Anthony-Towns who seemed to establish a solid chemistry with Butler in their first season together as Minnesota made the playoffs for the first time since the 2003-04 season. Butler, a veteran of seven NBA seasons, isnt feeling the laid back attitude that Towns and former high school phenom Andrew Wiggins are exhibiting. Butler and Towns having issues is probably news to most folks, but Wiggins act has been growing thin on the organization despite his talents.
Ti Windisch on Twitter
Jimmy Butler, the workaholic who grinded from being a 30th overall pick to becoming a superstar, doesn’t like the guy who stays up until 4 a.m. playing Fortnight and sometimes doesn’t know what team the Wolves are playing the day of the game? I for one am shocked. https://t.co/aDQVZ2iphk
In March it was reported that despite becoming the fifth-leading scorer in Minnesota Timberwolves history and signing a five-year, $145.5 million max extension, Wiggins was beefing about being a third option. In 2016 Wiggins averaged 23.6 points per game, but Minnesota only won 31 games. With the arrival of Butler, Wiggins average dropped almost 6 points this season to 17.7, but the team won 47 games.
Derek James on Twitter
Whoa. @DWolfsonKSTP just said on @1500ESPN that Wiggins has “whispered to teammates” that he’s unhappy being a third option behind Butler and Towns.
That kind of selfishness and immaturity and lack of commitment to winning is whats driving Jimmy Butler out of the door.
Two days ago yahoo sports reported that Minnesota was offering Jimmy Butler largest possible contract extension, which would be worth nearly $110 million over four years. He doesnt even care. The new NBA climate is about being part of a winner and Butler is entering his eighth season without ever going deep into the playoffs. The 6-foot-8 All-Star doesnt have time to waste playing in the sand box with two immature rising stars. He carries a huge load as it is and hell turn 30 before the first season of his next deal.
Butlers the kind of clutch player that will thrive on a championship contender and right now Towns and Wiggins are still counting their money, beefing over nonsense and feeling themselves a bit too much to challenge anyone for a championship. Add Butler’s name to the big-time free agents that will be available next summer.
