Tom Thibodeau launches Jimmy Butler on Timberwolves

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Thibodeau and Chief Executive Scott Layden, who is the leader in business conversations, continue to leave rival leaders and owners uncertain about the players and the broader asset types that Wolves enjoy. in an agreement. The league sources told ESPN that there is still no doubt about the Taylor-Thibodeau alignment on a transaction structure and schedule.

Since the beginning of the week, insisting that Minnesota teams do not negotiate calls back to idle and do not share the guidelines for the type of execution Minnesota wants to execute, Layden has moved on to the next phase of negotiations with Teams: The sources, said league sources, asked for stars, starters, draft picks and salary relief to acquire Butler.

Thibodeau told reporters Monday: "We will not do a bad deal" and interested teams believe that Thibodeau is reluctant to submit strong offers to his owner for review, as he still has hope to get Butler. the floor for Minnesota this season.

Thibodeau understands that the Wolves will not get a talent like Butler and could miss the playoffs for the second time in three years and lose his job.

As the business process unfolds, some interested teams attempt to bypass Layden and move directly to wolf ownership with commercial offers. Teams in Minnesota describe an unusual level of confusion. Some heard separately Taylor and Layden / Thibodeau's management team, with little apparent coordination between the two levels of the Minnesota organization. There were bubbles of optimism that Taylor convinced Layden and Thibodeau to follow his edict to exchange Butler soon, but these have so far given way to renewed uncertainty and chains of blurred communication.

Butler suffered his physique in Minnesota on Monday, missing the team's media day with a property license. He is preparing to stay away to continue what has been called a last week of rehabilitation for his surgically repaired right hand, but the direct message to Taylor and Thibodeau is undeniable: he expects to no longer never wearing a sweater does not want to prolong the drama when it comes out, sources said. While meeting with Thibodeau Monday in Minneapolis, Butler reiterated that he did not intend to play for the team again, league sources said.

To facilitate Butler's trade, the kind of larger contract needed to meet the financial needs of the future Minnesota and Butler team, the circumstances will require bringing the Sacramento Kings into the process. If the Timberwolves remain determined to unload the Gorgui Dieng Rescue Center and the remaining three years, or $ 48 million on his contract, they will need the Kings. Nobody in the NBA is getting closer to the $ 11 million salary caps that the Kings have to absorb a contract, as well as several contracts expiring – including Zach Randolph ($ 11.6 million), Iman Shumpert ($ 11 million) dollars) and Kosta Koufos ($ 8.7 million) – move to a team that prefers to set a cap in July.