Minnesota Sports Forum

thedoper wrote:I'm sure teams call about KAT all the time. Why the hell would Thibs be shopping KAT to Chicago? There is nothing left to fleece them for.

Yeah, they have nothing to offer us. But I suspect Lip's source is saying Thibs is reaching out to other teams about KAT, not the Bulls. Lip?

I know one guy KAT could fetch - Kawhi Leonard. Would anyone be up for that? But I agree that Thibs needs to go long before we consider trading Towns.

thedoper wrote:I'm sure teams call about KAT all the time. Why the hell would Thibs be shopping KAT to Chicago? There is nothing left to fleece them for.

Doper -- He's not shopping KAT to Chicago. But front office execs and owners usually know when players are being shopped around the League. This source is very good and nailed the Butler deal well in advance. My friend knows this source very well. I had heard about KAT being shopped before the public report but was told to keep it to myself. Once I saw word was already out, I thought I'd share it. Doesn't mean KAT will be traded and I don't know to what teams he's been shopped. But I have no doubt the report is true.

By the way, we didn't fleece Chicago. Time will tell what Dunn, LaVine and Markkenan become. Butler is what he is -- a very good player who made a big difference for the Wolves this past season. But the Bulls needed to rebuild and obviously Butler's age and contract weren't a fit for a rebuild. Boston no longer had interest in Butler last summer and Cleveland didn't have the assets to get him. There were no reports of any other suitors for Butler. The Wolves were the best deal Chicago could get and time may yet show they made a very good deal for themselves. Meanwhile, Butler is in the last year of his contract before he can opt out and command a HUGE new contract at age 30. He has some knee issues and a history of missing a lot of games. So I'm not prepared to say we took the Bulls to the cleaners last summer.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:I know one guy KAT could fetch - Kawhi Leonard. Would anyone be up for that? But I agree that Thibs needs to go long before we consider trading Towns.

I wouldn't be up for that deal, Cool. Bad enough that he's coming off an injury that kept him out an entire season. And bad enough that he seemed to display some attitude issues. But I suggest you take a look at Leonard's injury history before last season. He's one of those guys who has a hard time staying healthy and on the court. He's not that much better than the durable KAT to make that deal a good one for the Wolves.

But the bottom line is, as you said, Thibs has to go before we even consider trading KAT. I'll say the same thing about Wiggins. I just don't want to give up on Wiggins until I see him with a really good head coach. His best season might have been his rookie season under Flip. Since then he's played for Sam and Thibodeau.

Ya I 100% believe this story. There has been to much smoke around these 2 for a while now. I also don't think Lowe says anything if he doesn't have sources, he is actually good at his job. Also all year Jon K was pointing out in small snippets that Butler and KAT don't get along. And who is Thibs going to choose between those 2 it is obviously Butler.

I have defended Thibs a lot this year, probably more than he deserves but if this is true, Thibs should be fired immediately. You don't trade a player of KAT talent who is 22 on a rookie deal in any situation. It would be franchise suicide.

If Butler gets pissed because Thibs gets fired so be it you have to trade Butler then. (I would still do the Butler trade 100 times out of 100 times).

I also want to say this is a BIG Glen Taylor problem. 4 best players in the wolves history, KG hates Taylor, Love hates Taylor, KAT upset with the organization, Butler agent calls out Taylor in interviews. You can't have your 4 best players in your franchise history dislike your franchise. Thibs 100% deserves blame but this is a BIG Glen Taylor problem.

Was never a Thibs fan, and I can understand if KAT is upset if for no other reason than the late game play calls. Thibs described the wolves as having the best young core, and if this happens he will of traded almost all of it away in a two seasons. The guy needs to go. If butler wants out, so be it. Get what you can for him.

Why are teams like Utah able to play good D, even when they lose Gobert? Thibs is an overrated coach.

Simply cannot make moves based on what Jimmy wants, or to try and compliment Jimmy. His best days are behind him. I'd get what we can for him before next season. His value should still be high. In retrospect i think we tried to win too soon. I don't think the Butler trade was a good one for us in the long run. Would rather have a good coach, Dunn, Zach and to have continued the course we were on. You should make a move for a guy like Butler when you are close, we weren't close.

My concern is not Thibs msking a crap trade. It is Kat getting as sick of the incompetence of this org as Love did and just leaving when his contract ends. He doesn't like playing for an a hole eith zeto people skills who has an obsolete system and runs everyone into the ground. What a surprise. I would rather have been a lottery team than get deept in the first round. Glen you just plain suck. Fire him now

CoolBreeze44 wrote:Simply cannot make moves based on what Jimmy wants, or to try and compliment Jimmy. His best days are behind him. I'd get what we can for him before next season. His value should still be high. In retrospect i think we tried to win too soon. I don't think the Butler trade was a good one for us in the long run. Would rather have a good coach, Dunn, Zach and to have continued the course we were on. You should make a move for a guy like Butler when you are close, we weren't close.

Can't agree more. Unfortunately, Dieng's contract won't be leaving even if they dump Thibs.

lipoli390 wrote:

thedoper wrote:I'm sure teams call about KAT all the time. Why the hell would Thibs be shopping KAT to Chicago? There is nothing left to fleece them for.

Doper -- He's not shopping KAT to Chicago. But front office execs and owners usually know when players are being shopped around the League. This source is very good and nailed the Butler deal well in advance. My friend knows this source very well. I had heard about KAT being shopped before the public report but was told to keep it to myself. Once I saw word was already out, I thought I'd share it. Doesn't mean KAT will be traded and I don't know to what teams he's been shopped. But I have no doubt the report is true.

By the way, we didn't fleece Chicago. Time will tell what Dunn, LaVine and Markkenan become. Butler is what he is -- a very good player who made a big difference for the Wolves this past season. But the Bulls needed to rebuild and obviously Butler's age and contract weren't a fit for a rebuild. Boston no longer had interest in Butler last summer and Cleveland didn't have the assets to get him. There were no reports of any other suitors for Butler. The Wolves were the best deal Chicago could get and time may yet show they made a very good deal for themselves. Meanwhile, Butler is in the last year of his contract before he can opt out and command a HUGE new contract at age 30. He has some knee issues and a history of missing a lot of games. So I'm not prepared to say we took the Bulls to the cleaners last summer.

Yes time will tell. What it has told so far is that we fleeced them. But a miracle turnaround might happen for those young players. It would certainly take that for any of them to reach Butler's level, but yes you will never know.