Jimmy Butler denied Tom Thibodeau’s effort to keep him with Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves are in the midst of a major internal matter with All-Star forward Jimmy Butler. Butler decided to inform the team that he wants to be traded.

This has put management in a bit of a bind. Now, they need to try to sort out the entire ordeal in the best manner possible. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, president of basketball operations and head coach Tom Thibodeau had attempted to persuade Butler to stay with the team but he has stayed strong in his stance in desiring to be moved.

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Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations and coach Tom Thibodeau met with All-Star forward Jimmy Butler on Monday to try and persuade him to rejoin the team in the preseason, league sources told ESPN.

Butler declined, sources said.

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As a result, the Timberwolves are in the spot of having to find a trade to alleviate the situation completely. Butler has his mind set on being moved prior to the start of the season to get a fresh start. As well as that, he wants to move toward inking a long-term deal with another franchise.

Thibodeau did indicate publicly that he will work out a trade if it’s in the best interest of the team with the haul in return for the All-Star forward. Butler has established himself as one of the premier players in the league as a legitimate two-way talent.

It may ultimately be a matter of time before the Timberwolves go the route of working out a trade to move Butler to a new team where he can work toward squaring out the next chapter of his career.