Trade target reiterates unease with Timberwolves: ‘It’s not fixed’ Butler explains why he is at odds with front office
MIAMI — Jimmy Butler reiterated his unease Wednesday with the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the Miami Heat still in pursuit of a potential trade.
Shortly after rejoining his teammates for practice in Minneapolis for the first time since he requested a trade on the eve of training camp three weeks ago, Butler said he still believes nothing has been solved with the team.
In an interview with ESPN, when asked whether his return to practice is an indication of a truce with the Timberwolves, the All-Star said, “I think people would think that. I think people would think would think that, too. It’s not a fix. fixed.”
Asked if the situation was fixable, Butler said, “It could be. But do I think so? No.
“But you’ve got to be honest. I’m being honest. Do I think so? No. I’m being honest. But is everybody going to be honest? No. No, everybody is not going to be honest.”
Butler spoke in the wake of reports of a tense return to practice Wednesday that included harsh language directed toward teammates, the coaching staff and management.
“Like if you go and say, ‘Which one of you all told what Jimmy said today in practice?’ Everybody would be, ‘Oh, I don’t know,’ ” he said. “You got to be honest. I don’t care. There ain’t nothing we can do about it now. But be honest. That’s it.
“I just want everybody to be that. I It’s not happy. I’m sorry if I go about it the wrong way. I really do apologize. I just want to win.”
Asked if he still felt strongly that there still can be a fit with the Timberwolves, “We’re supposed to be honest in this. So everybody is really, really, really positive about the whole thing. But I know the truth. I know the whole truth, of who we talked about it. And everybody may not want to say it. But you know.”
He said there remains distrust.
“I can tell when you’re stuttering, when you’re gathering your words,” he said of discussion with team officials. “You’re hearing the truth when it’s coming out right away. You don’t need to think about how to say it.”