The Timberwolves are reportedly telling other teams they have no intention of trading Jimmy Butler, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The All-Star guard reportedly is demanding a trade, and ESPN reported Thursday the Clippers, Knicks and Nets are all on his short list.
But Wojnarowski reported Friday that NBA execs calling the T-Wolves to inquire about a possible Butler trade "are getting inquires shut down." According to the report, the T-Wolves are telling other teams, Butler is "an elite player and that the franchise intends to keep him."
This strong stance might be an effort to appease coach Tom Thibodeau, who reportedly does not want to part ways with Butler, whom he also coached with the Bulls. One NBA team executive told Sporting News that Thibodeau would especially balk at trading Butler for draft picks to begin a rebuilding process.
"No one expects Tom to coach a 25-win or even 35-win team," the source told SN. "Even if he has to agree to dissolve the (coaching) contract, they’d do that before they go and trade Butler for draft picks."
Butler has two years remaining on the five-year, $92 million deal he signed with the Bulls in 2015. He was traded to the Timberwolves before last season. However, Butler can opt out after this season.
Butler averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists last season for Minnesota, which made the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
