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Jimmy Butler objected Wednesday to a report that his non-participation that night in a match against Utah Jazz was tied to his desire to be traded and could, in fact, " drive to [an] prolonged absence "by the unhappy star of the Timberwolves Butler echoed Minnesota's claim that he was just resting, and said he would do the same for his team's next match .
"Because my body is hurting me and I do not want to go there and risk injury, people make up stuff," Butler said in a message to ESPN's Rachel Nichols. He made reference to a match against the Warriors by adding, "What will they do when I show up and circle on Friday?"
Butler was reacting to a tweet Shams Charania, Athletics, announced earlier in the day that Wednesday's game was "the next step in the six-week process to pull out the Minnesota star" and "could [an] prolonged absence for Butler. "
Butler made his request for an exchange in September, before the start of the season, but the Timberwolves have not yet accessed it, because they ask for a price much higher than the other teams are willing to meet. Team owner Glen Taylor reportedly promised Butler to work toward the completion of an exchange, but as the second season approaches, the eight-year veteran may want to step up the pressure .
"Basically, he missed all of the training camp, so he has a general pain," said Tom Thibodeau, Timberwolves coach and basketball operations chairman, about Butler's absence for Wednesday, according to Athletic. However, the website noted that the contest was taking place between Tuesday and Thursday, which could potentially have allowed Butler to get enough rest, and he asserted that "his availability will be determined game by game".
There was a notable disagreement between Charania and another prominent NBA journalist, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, about Butler's decision to miss the Jazz match. Whereas Charania reported that Butler made this call himself, Wojnarowski cited sources in claiming that the Timberwolves have "suggested" that the player does not participate in the contest.
Wojnarowski announced last week that the Rockets had proposed a package including four first-round picks for Butler, hoping to add another factor of difference to his twin-star guards tandem of James Harden and Chris Paul, after Houston took a surprisingly dismal start. . Athletic, however, reported Wednesday that the Timberwolves were "reluctant to accept this deal" because they feared to bring in veteran guard Brandon Knight, who would be included to help balance the salaries involved.
In the absence of Butler, the guard of the Timberwolves, Derrick Rose, former teammate of the Bulls, scored 50 points while Minnesota overtook Utah, on a score of 128-125.
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