Report: Jimmy Butler to have ‘honest conversation’ with Timberwolves about his future

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Jimmy Butler

All-Star small forward Jimmy Butler will meet with Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau and general manager Scott Layden next week to have honest conversations about his future with the team, according to a report from The Athletic.

There have been two reports which have surfaced this summer about Butler being frustrated with Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns. Butler is reportedly uncertain about playing with Wiggins and has issues with Wiggins’ work ethic and approach on defense. The All-Star swingman is also fed up with the nonchalant attitude of Towns.

Butler turned down the Timberwolves’ four-year, $110 million extension in July. He is slated to make $18.7 million this season and has a player option for the 2019-20 season. More money is available to Butler if he plays out his contract and enters the open market in 2019.

The Timberwolves acquired Jimmy Butler from the Chicago Bulls. In 59 games last year, Butler averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists, shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from three.

Butler suffered a torn right meniscus in late February and underwent surgery. He did return near the end of the season and helped the Timberwolves make the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. Minnesota lost to the Houston Rockets in the first-round in five games.

A few years ago, former NBA player Antoine Walker called Butler a “bad locker room guy.” Butler is not an easy guy to get along with. He’s had documented beefs with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah when all three were on the Bulls. During the 2015-16 season, Noah and Butler engaged in several heated disagreements and had to be separated many times.

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