Jimmy Butler has requested a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski.
Butler has reportedly provided the Timberwolves a list of “one-to-three teams” with which he’s willing to sign an extension.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports Butler’s “preferred destinations for a trade” are the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks.
Butler has two years remaining on a five-year, $92-million deal he signed with the Bulls, however the final year of the contract is a player option.
The latest news on the Butler front comes after rumours have been swirling that the 29-year-old is unhappy with his current situation in Minnesota. In his first season with the T-Wolves, Butler averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 59 games. He chipped in with an average of 15.8 points and six rebounds in five post-season contests as Minnesota was ousted in the first round by the Houston Rockets in five games.
Tom Thibodeau has been resistant to the idea of trading Butler, we're told. With media day on Monday and training camp set to being on Tuesday, the clock is ticking.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) September 19, 2018
Drafted 30th overall by Chicago in 2011, Butler spent his first five NBA seasons with the Bulls before being dealt to the Timberwolves in a draft-day trade on June 22, 2017. The Houston native is a four-time NBA All-Star, four-time All-Defensive Second Team and was named NBA Most Improved Player in 2015.
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