As the Heat hope to rekindle trade talks with Timberwolves about acquiring Jimmy Butler (per ESPN.com), the All-Star forward participated in practice Wednesday in Minnesota, an emotional workout in which he reportedly challenged teammates, coaches and the front office.

Butler, who has communicated multiple times to the Timberwolves his desire to be traded, hadn't practiced with the team until Wednesday. According to ESPN, which cited unidentified league sources, he was with his teammates Wednesday morning at Minnesota's facility and later practiced for the first time.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski subsequently tweeted that Butler's participation "was vociferous and emotional at times, targeting" coach Tom Thibodeau and GM Scott Layden, plus teammates Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.

Per Wojnarowski's sources, Butler at one point turned to Layden and yelled, "You f—ing need me! You can't win without me!" leaving teammates and coaches largely speechless.

However, Timberwolves forward Anthony Toliver was less definitive when talking to The Athletic: "He was … around. That's really all I gotta say about that."

A proposed blockbuster deal between the Timberwolves and Heat fell apart over the weekend just before it was completed. 

The Timberwolves front office and coaching staff, as well as some teammates, have held out hope that Butler would rejoin the team.

Per ESPN's Wojnarowski earlier Wednesday:

"Outside of the Heat, the Timberwolves have had no serious, active talks ongoing with any other team recently, league sources said. Butler has told Minnesota that he'll leave in free agency in July — and wants a trade now.

"Owner Glen Taylor has pushing president of basketball operations and coach Tom Thibodeau and general manager Scott Layden to find a deal sooner rather than later for Butler, league sources said."