After yesterday’s explosive Timberwolves practice, I wondered what would be the next attraction added to what is becoming a three ring circus. It looks like an explanatory meeting is the latest saga of All My Timberwolves.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Jimmy Butler initiated a players-only meeting. Butler made his issues with management known with the team and that he “would compete with them”. However, his primary message was that he’d be the one to lead the club.
Sources on @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium: Several players spoke up in players-only meeting, but Butler led it, made known his issues with management. His message was similar to one he displayed Wednesday: I run this. He's far too competitive to sit real games. https://t.co/Cwo8OCFY8m
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 11, 2018
It was reported yesterday by espn.com’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Butler was “vociferous and intense” at his first practice. Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, POBO/Head Coach Tom Thibodeau and GM Scott Layden were all targets of Butler’s wrath.
Butler explained his actions in an interview Wednesday evening with Rachel Nichols of ESPN:
“A lot of it is true, but you got to think, I haven’t played basketball in so long and I’m so passionate and I love the game and I don’t do it for any other reason except to compete and to go up against the best to try and prove I can hang. So all my emotion came out at one time. Was it the right way to do it? No. But I can’t control that when I’m out there competing. That’s my love of the game, that’s raw me. Me at my finest, me at my purest. That’s what you’re going to get inside the lines.”
Despite the meeting, it is remote at best that this situation can be salvaged. The Heat trade will have to be revisited and Minnesota may just want to cut their losses and move on with their young talent. The longer this goes on, the worse it looks for the Timberwolves not only in the short term but potentially long term. It appears there is a lack of control and accountability throughout the organization. Minnesota is already not a hot spot for attracting free agents and if there is a perception the environment there is toxic, no top-tier players , or their representatives, would want them to sign there.
