Report: Butler skeptical of Thibodeau's efforts to trade him

Jimmy Butler, skeptical of Minnesota Timberwolves president and head coach Tom Thibodeau's attempt to fulfill his trade request, sought out team owner Glen Taylor to receive assurance that good faith efforts to deal him were continuing, sources told The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski and Shams Charania.

The report comes on the heels of a meeting between Butler and Thibodeau, in which the coach urged the player to rejoin the Timberwolves for the preseason if a trade isn't made within the next week.

Butler, who's in Minnesota but not with the team, reportedly declined that request.

Thibodeau told reporters during the team's media day on Monday that the Wolves wouldn't be forced into a bad deal simply because of Butler's demand. At the same time, Taylor, the team's 77-year-old owner, reportedly wants a quick resolution to the situation.

With the regular season starting in less than a month, the likelihood exists that Butler could hold out if he's not traded. It's well-known that the veteran swingman doesn't get along with the team's youngsters like Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, and the drama is starting to affect the rest of the locker room, according to The Athletic.

"When I talk to Thibs he always tells me this is nothing and we've been through worse situations than this in Chicago," power forward Taj Gibson said.
"I kind of glanced at him with a smile. It's weird. It's really hard to explain. It’s a weird feeling right before training camp."