Report: Butler calls meeting with Timberwolves



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One day after expressing dissatisfaction with the Minnesota Timberwolves, star guard Jimmy Butler reportedly told his teammates today that he would be competing with them.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Butler spoke at length with his teammates, expressing his feelings about them and the team as a whole. On Wednesday, Butler would have verbally challenged his teammates, coaches and front-office during the training session. According to Wojnarowski, Butler shouted: "You can not win without me" at GM Laylay during the practice. His actions would have left his teammates and coaches "speechless".

Via Twitter, Charania reports the following:

Timberwolves star Jimmy Butler today called a meeting for the players and unveiled his feelings about the situation and management, according to league sources. Butler explained to the players that he would be competing with them, stating that he would stay with the franchise in the regular season.

Sources on @TheAthleticNBA@WatchStadium: Several players spoke at a meeting reserved for players, but Butler led it and made his problems known to management. His message was similar to the one he posted on Wednesday: I'm launching this. It is far too competitive to sit down to real games.

Butler's talked with Rachel Nichols of ESPN Wednesday afternoon to explain his actions during practice.

"It's true for the most part.You have to think … I have not played basketball for so long," Butler told Nichols. "And I'm so passionate, and I love the game and I do not do it for any other reason except to compete and compete against the best to try to prove I can hang up."

"So all my excitement came out at once, was that the right way to do it? No. But I can not control that when I'm competing. It's my love of the game. C & # 39; is me who makes me believe at my best, my purest.That's what you're going to get inside the lines. "

"I was honest," Butler continued. "I was brutally honest Yes, but I think that's the problem Everyone is so afraid of being honest with each other If you do not like the way which I have been driving to practice, one of the players comes to me.Someone say something.No matter who.I will not offend.This is not a problem. is not personal. "

How should Wolves handle Jimmy Butler's situation in the future?

Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic announced on Twitter via Twitter that Wolves forward Anthony Tolliver says the following about Butler: "He was … around … it's really all I have to say about it."

A few days ago, several news outlets reported that an exchange between Jimmy Butler and the Minnesota Miami Heat had collapsed. However, this apparently did not stop the Heat from showing interest in reviving the Wolves trade talks for their upset All-Star guard.

Wojnarowski said that the Heat group remained interested in resuming trade negotiations with the Wolves after the conclusion of the deal that seemed poised to materialize on Saturday. Yesterday, Butler reportedly told Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau that he still wants to be traded, according to Shams Charania and Krawczynski of The Athletic. Butler had been absent from the team while the Wolves were in California for a liaison trip before the pre-season.

The changes proposed by Minnesota resulted in a break in previous trade negotiations, just as the teams were about to finalize an agreement. The teams reportedly advanced to exchange medical information about the players, which is usually the last stage of the NBA's trade negotiations.

Aside from this trade, the Timberwolves reacted by an amendment to the framework of the agreement, according to Wojnarowski, which caused a "break" of trade negotiations.

Trade negotiations involving Jimmy Butler have been a problem for Minnesota for weeks.

Butler, a four-time star, averages 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.0 steals in 59 games for the Timberwolves last season. He underwent minor surgery on his right hand in July after a meniscus injury to his right knee in February, which prevented him from playing 21 games in 2017-18.

Still, it seems the Heat may be Butler's only serious contender at this stage, writes Wojnarowski:

Apart from the heat, the Timberwolves have not had any serious and active discussions going on with another team recently, according to league sources. Butler announced in Minnesota that he would leave the country in July – and that he would like an exchange now.

The owner, Glen Taylor, is asking the president of basketball operations, coaches Tom Thibodeau and general manager Scott Layden to find an agreement as soon as possible for Butler, League sources said.

Reports circulated during the off season that Butler was frustrated by the nonchalant attitude of Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. Next season, Wiggins will start playing on his maximum contract in 2018-2019, with a salary of more than $ 25 million that will represent more than 20% of the team's ceiling and push the Timberwolves to approach the threshold of the luxury tax. The cities signed an extension with the Wolves shortly after the opening of the training camp, securing a place in Minnesota for years to come.

The Timberwolves bought Butler in Chicago in exchange for Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen in the 2017 dead season. The former 30th overall pick allowed Timberwolves to win a 47-35 season, while winning his fourth consecutive place in a team of stars. The Wolves played in the playoffs, ending a 14-year drought for the franchise, but they lost 4-1 in the first round against the Houston Rockets, seeded.

The information provided by the Associated Press has been used in this report.

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