What’s really going on?

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

Glen Taylor made a 90-minute drive to the Cities for a rare Wolves practice. He met Jimmy Butler and they reached an understanding as Butler prepares to play

https://twitter.com/JonKrawczynski/status/1051619170738155521?s=20

They will continue looking for a trade?

Jimmy will get a new contract next off season?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Gee, I'm shocked - shocked I tell you! - that Jimmy hasn't been traded yet.

While we can't possibly be any worse than we were in the pre-season, this is a broken team, even with Butler in the fold. No chance do they have the focus or cohesiveness to compete for a playoff spot.

[Lipoli390]

I have to admit that I really like Jimmy, in spite of all the stuff that's transpired over the last several weeks. I enjoyed watching his Rachel interview and enjoyed the post-practice interview in this thread. I love watching him perform on the basketball court - his skills, his effort and the joy on his face. He has a presence and charisma along with an interesting character and terrific basketball skills. But in spite of all that, this team simply can't go forward with him under the circumstances. This team needs to trade Butler for the best value the market provides. Even more importantly, this organization needs to part ways with Thibodeau as both head coach and PBO. That's far more important than trading Butler, but both have to happen. This situation we're in is untenable and ridiculous. But that's nothing new with this organization. We can debate whether the Wolves have hit a new low as an organization against the backdrop of the Joe Smith deal, the David Kahn hiring, the Flynn pick and the Darko signing. The point is that this situation is unacceptable.

By the way, one of the most revealing responses Butler gave in today's interview was his answer to the question asking why he waited so long to make his trade demand. Jimmy's response: "I didn't." Thibodeau's incompetence is beyond astounding!

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

I think the team can be fixed and butler having that 1:1 meeting with kat is a start. If all was, i don't even think that meeting takes place.

But thibs cant be a part of it. Hes at the heart of this mess and everyone knows it.

[mjs34]

I am starting to question if Thibs isn't a point of contention with Jimmy. In his post practice interview he made a comment about signaling Thibs to take him out when gassed, and if Thibs didn't he would signal to Josh to come to the scorers table. That sounds like a guy that isn't trusting his coach to do the right thing.

Maybe canning Thibs is what Jimmy really wants.

[mjs34]

So in spite of Butler's public trade demand, the owner's directive to trade him, our young star's (KAT's) disdain for Butler and even the most recent antics of Butler, the Wolves are about to start with the season with Butler starting at SG. We've heard multiple reports from trusted reporters that multiple teams have been frustrated by what they view as unrealistic demands, expressing the opinion that Thibodeau is doing what he can to avoid dealing Butler. The only specific trade proposal we're learned about was apparently a deal with Miami that consisted of Butler in exchange for J. Richardson, Waiters and Miami's protected 2019 1st rd pick. Apparently, the deal was about to happen as evidenced by the fact that medicals were exchanged. Then Thibodeau apparently called Riley and upped the ante, demanding more draft picks. If these reports are true, and I believe they ring true, then what Thibodeau did strikes me as the actions of a guy who just couldn't get himself to go through with the deal.

Teams have sent medicals over weeks before trades happen. That is a smokescreen to cover up that the wolves never actually agreed to a trade. Asking for another pick was very likely a condition Taylor threw in knowing that Thibs was only worried about this year. Most teams would want more than a late first round pick to take on Waiters contract, and that means we would be valuing Jrich above Butler. Doesn't hold water!

[Lipoli390]

Christopher Hine: Can confirm what @ Jon Krawczynski first reported that owner Glen Taylor and Jimmy Butler met today and Taylor said the team will continue to look for a trade for Butler and honor his trade request, and Butler will play while he's still a member of the Wolves. - via Twitter ChristopherHine

This report indicates that the message to Butler was that the Wolves are looking to trade him per his request. It makes sense. But the key questions are this: Who wants Jimmy, what are they willing to give up and what will the Wolves expect minimally in return?

Note that any team that considers trading for Jimmy will take into account the following factors, which invariably reduce Jimmy's trade/market value:

1. There is no assurance that Jimmy will re-sign next summer, which means there's not assurance he won't be no more than a 1-year rental.

2. Jimmy's history suggests he'll likely miss somewhere in the range of 10-20 games.

3. Jimmy's history suggests he might alienate some teammates and hurt the team's chemistry.

4. The Wolves have limited bargaining leverage because the entire world knows Jimmy wants out and that it's highly unlikely he'd re-sign with the Wolves next summer.

On the flip side, there is reason for teams to want Jimmy if they are already a playoff team looking to advance in the playoffs and perhaps become a contender. Jimmy is one of the best two-way players in the League and a super hard competitor. The key to getting his market value up in spite of the four factors noted above is to have multiple teams interested in adding Jimmy to their roster. At this point, Miami and Houston appear to be the only teams with a significant interest. But there could be more. I still see Miami as the logical destination for Butler. He's Miami's only reaslitic chance of landing a top player in the next two years given their cap situation. It's win-now time for the Heat and Jimmy's the only player available for trade who could take them from the bottom half of the East to the top half. A trade with Houston makes absolutely no sense for the Wolves unless Capela is included, which of course would never happen.

[Lipoli390]

I am starting to question if Thibs isn't a point of contention with Jimmy. In his post practice interview he made a comment about signaling Thibs to take him out when gassed, and if Thibs didn't he would signal to Josh to come to the scorers table. That sounds like a guy that isn't trusting his coach to do the right thing.

Maybe canning Thibs is what Jimmy really wants.

Interesting take. If that's the case, then Glen should immediately fire Thibodeau and take Butler off the market.

What I found interesting about that comment was that Jimmy said he would signal Josh Okogie, not any of the vets -- not his old teammates Derrick Rose or Luol Deng. It would have been nice to have Butler stay here and mentor Okogie. We know that Jimmy is Okogie's favorite NBA player. But more importantly, Okogie is Jimmy's kind of player. I could see great chemistry forming between those two.

[Monster]

I am starting to question if Thibs isn't a point of contention with Jimmy. In his post practice interview he made a comment about signaling Thibs to take him out when gassed, and if Thibs didn't he would signal to Josh to come to the scorers table. That sounds like a guy that isn't trusting his coach to do the right thing.

Maybe canning Thibs is what Jimmy really wants.

Interesting take. If that's the case, then Glen should immediately fire Thibodeau and take Butler off the market.

What I found interesting about that comment was that Jimmy said he would signal Josh Okogie, not any of the vets -- not his old teammates Derrick Rose or Luol Deng. It would have been nice to have Butler stay here and mentor Okogie. We know that Jimmy is Okogie's favorite NBA player. But more importantly, Okogie is Jimmy's kind of player. I could see great chemistry forming between those two.

I've always thought there was part of Thibs that actually wants players to either by their play (good or bad) or in some other way convince him to do something other than the norm he has set up in his rotations. I think there are a lot of vet coaches over the years that kinda do it that way and i'm Not suggesting it's the way to do it but I think Thibs wants players to really initiate change themselves at times in this regard. If Thibs was more of the problem (at least as coach) I think Jimmy would have said something more that leads to that. I think he and Taj kinda like joking with Thibs about the minutes thing even if it's a concern to some extent as well.

[Monster]

Jon K reports the meeting with Glen was assuring Butler they were moving forward with trading him and they came to agreement. He also said that Glen addresses the team. He reported Thibs said he and Glen communicate multiple times a day. It seems either Glen is a clueless baffon (ok sadly that's pretty likely) or things are not as bad as some of the reporting makes it sound like. Honestly it's probably a mix of both. Lol

Now let's say the reports are true of the offers we have received for whatever reason...might as well wait. It's a ways into the season but December 15 opens up a lot more options for teams. The landscape of moving 1st round picks for rentals has changed but this is Jimmy Butler. That's a hell of a rental. Bobby Marks Tweeted he sees teams wanting him more as time goes on and won't be surprised if the offers get better. Marks isn't always dead on but it's encouraging to hear someone like that say it.