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MILWAUKEE (AP) – Jimmy Butler was out as the Minnesota Timberwolves finished their preparations for their playoff final on Friday night.
Butler asked for an exchange, but returned to practice with the team on Wednesday, a session in which he verbally challenged his teammates and coaches. He was not with the team during the Friday shootout in Milwaukee.
Head Coach Tom Thibodeau, speaking publicly for the first time since Wednesday's practice, said Butler was doing conditioning work in Minneapolis and he was not suspended.
When asked if Butler would play on the first day of the regular season in San Antonio on Wednesday in Washington, Thibodeau said, "The situation remains unstable."
Butler told ESPN after Wednesday's session that his problems with the Timberwolves had not been resolved.
& # 39; & # 39; Let's be honest. That could be, "Butler said in the interview. & # 39; & # 39; But do I think so? . Not & # 39; & # 39;
Karl-Anthony Towns Center would not want to say what happened during this practice or if a player meeting was held on Thursday.
"I think the only thing to clarify, is that we are excited to play basketball here today in Milwaukee," Towns said. When asked if he would be happy to play with Butler in the first half of the season, Towns said, "I'm happy to play basketball with anyone."
Butler will be a free agent at the end of the season and would qualify to sign a five-year contract with Minnesota at that time. The young stars Towns and Andrew Wiggins have signed a five-year contract with the team.
The Timberwolves striker, Taj Gibson, who was playing with Butler in Chicago, said he did not think Wednesday 's training was out of the ordinary.
"I thought it was a normal practice, but it was new to the guys," Gibson said. & # 39; & # 39; It's only our second year together (in Minnesota), but it's been a long time since I'm with Jimmy.
"We have always had similar practices in Chicago," added Gibson. "It was always good competition and at the end of the training, everyone shook and we always understood that we were teammates."
Butler told ESPN that he was waiting for one of his teammates to defend him, but that never happened.
"If we had thought it was serious, we would have done it, but we did not think it was so serious," Gibson said. "It was just competitive guys who were training. I used to play with guys who grew up, spoke badly and had fun at the same time. "
The saga of the quadruple All-Star began in mid-September, when it was learned that Butler had told Thibodeau that he wanted an exchange after a season in which he was Minnesota's top scorer and had helped the Wolves overcome a 14-year drought in the playoffs.
The Timberwolves had interviews with several teams. Thibodeau said any agreement should serve the best interests of the Timberwolves.
Thibodeau said that part of what had been reported as a result of the practice was incorrect, but he refused to expand.
"This is not uncommon when players argue that there will be discussions," Thibodeau said. & # 39; & # 39; It was competitive. & # 39; & # 39;
When asked if he was satisfied with the practice, Thibodeau replied, "You are never satisfied with the practice. You always strive to be as efficient as possible. & # 39; & # 39;
Thibodeau said that he would not comment on Butler's criticism of Towns and Wiggins. He acknowledged that his team would have to deal with the constant attention of the media on the situation and decide if Butler would be traded.
"It's the challenge of the NBA," said Thibodeau. All teams will go through something at some point in the season. For us, it's early and the challenge is not to get distracted, to get ready for the season. & # 39; & # 39;
Butler was brought to Minnesota before last season to meet Thibodeau, the former Bulls coach, and bring leadership to a young team. The Timberwolves reached the playoffs last season and lost to Houston in the first round.
"The greatest job of a leader, to me, is to unite and inspire," said Thibodeau. & # 39; & # 39; It's good to confront each other, it's not a problem. But if you fight, do not worry. & # 39; & # 39;
Notes: Wiggins was not with the team on Friday, staying home while waiting for the birth of his first child.
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