When the Minnesota Timberwolves first paired Jimmy Butler with Karl-Anthony Towns, it looked like they were aiming to be the next big thing in the Western Conference. Now, it might be ending sooner rather than later. The two have only played one season together, but the pairing might be headed for divorce. Butler is reportedly “fed up” with Towns. According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Butler doesn’t want to sign an extension with Minnesota and is annoyed by the nonchalant attitude of Towns and other teammates. Cowley writes that this could lead to a pairing of Butler and Kyrie Irving on an Eastern Conference team next year. Irving has already said he won’t be signing a contract extension this summer. As for Butler, a league source said that he also has no intentions of signing an extension with Minnesota, all but fed up with the nonchalant attitude of his younger teammates, specifically Karl-Anthony Towns. [ … ] Can Butler still change his mind? Absolutely. Especially if Minnesota were to do the almost improbable and move Towns – a move ownership is highly against. Butler averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game last season, while Towns produced 21.3 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. Minnesota made its first playoff appearance in 14 years. On the surface, things looked okay. But if Cowley has it right, things are almost in disrepair behind the scenes.<doc-sep>Jim Mone/Associated Press All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler reportedly has "no intentions" of signing a contract extension with the Minnesota Timberwolves, due to issues with his teammates. According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Butler is "all but fed up with the nonchalant attitude of his younger teammates," specifically center Karl-Anthony Towns. Butler has one year remaining on his contract before he can decline his player option and become a free agent in 2019. The 28-year-old Butler was traded to the T'Wolves last offseason after spending the first six seasons of his career with the Chicago Bulls. Butler performed well in his first season with the Timberwolves, as he averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He also helped lead them to their first playoff berth since 2003-04. Despite Butler aiding in Minnesota's turnaround, Cowley reported that he has plans for the future that don't include the T'Wolves. Butler and Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving reportedly have interest in joining forces in the Eastern Conference. Video Play Button Videos you might like Like Butler, Irving can become a free agent after the 2018-19 campaign. Butler has played playoff basketball in six of his seven NBA seasons, but he has never advanced past the second round. The T'Wolves are brimming with young talent in the form of Towns and Andrew Wiggins, but they barely made the playoffs in 2017-18 as the No. 8 seed. With the West getting even better due to LeBron James' decision to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota's future may not be as bright as initially thought. If Butler decides to opt out and leave after next season, a reshuffling of the roster around Towns could be in order.<doc-sep>This is turning into a terrible offseason for the Wolves. Jimmy Butler's future with the Timberwolves is now in question more than ever before. Chicago Sun-Times NBA writer Joe Cowley wrote a column Tuesday saying Butler is "all but fed up with the nonchalant attitude of his younger teammates, specifically Karl-Anthony Towns." Butler's reported beef with Towns' style is new, whereas previous reports have suggested Butler takes issue with Andrew Wiggins' work ethic and approach to playing defense. Before last month's NBA Draft, head coach Tom Thibodeau addressed the reported demise of his locker room, striking down the rumors as fake news. But the smoke continues billowing and none of the players have publicly challenged the reported internal issues. It was reported earlier this week that Minnesota is preparing to offer Butler a four-year deal worth more than $100 million, but Cowley says Butler has "no intentions of signing an extension with Minnesota." Cowley said there's still time for Butler to change his mind, but it would likely mean the Wolves have to trade Towns, a decision the longtime Sun-Times writer says Wolves owner Glen Taylor is against. Losing Butler in free agency is a worst-case scenario for the Wolves because they gave up rising stars Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn, in addition to the No. 7 pick in last year's NBA Draft, which turned into another rising star, power forward Lauri Markkanen, to get him. If Butler leaves Minnesota, the trade could go down as an all-time franchise blunder, and that's saying something for a franchise that's made some epic mistakes – like drafting Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn over Steph Curry, and signing an illegal contract with Joe Smith that set the franchise back about a decade.<doc-sep>
Jimmy Butler played a huge role in the Timberwolves reaching the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2004. There were definitely some struggles on the way there, especially when Butler went down with an injury, but the end result was what Minnesota needed. The Wolves reached the playoffs and Butler led them there. Mission accomplished. After a season like that, it should come as no surprise that Butler is expected to soon receive a contract extension offer from Minnesota. However, there's a reluctance on the part of Butler's side. A report from Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Butler has no intention of signing an extension. Apparently, he and fellow Wolves star Karl-Anthony Towns don't have the best relationship. As for Butler, a league source said that he also has no intentions of signing an extension with Minnesota, all but fed up with the nonchalant attitude of his younger teammates, specifically Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns' relationship with Butler could be what leads to an eventual breakup, but that isn't the only reason why Butler wouldn't sign that an extension. With the salary cap rising at the end of his current contract, there's no reason for Butler to sign an extension now. He'll make more money by waiting it out and signing a new deal as an unrestricted free agent. However, it has to be concerning that Butler isn't getting along well with teammates to the point that he would consider leaving. The same Sun-Times report stated that, if given the opportunity, Butler would like to team up with Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving. Whether that's in Boston or somewhere else, that pairing would be something to see.