Dunking With Wolves
Fansided

5 goals for Jimmy Butler and the Timberwolves

By Vince Massara

BLOOMINGTON, MN - JUNE 29: Tom Thibobeau introduces Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves to the public during a press conference at the Mall of America on June 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, MN - JUNE 29: Tom Thibobeau introduces Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves to the public during a press conference at the Mall of America on June 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 06: Karl-Anthony Towns
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 06: Karl-Anthony Towns /

Learn to not be ‘the guy’

First and foremost, Jimmy Butler is an Alpha. He is strong willed and has the belief to improve himself as a player beyond anybody’s most elaborate expectations. Butler was the ‘guy’ on the Bulls and the team revolved around his game.

However, the long-term plan for the Timberwolves is to build around Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns is the Timberwolves present just as much as he is their future. For the Minnesota Timberwolves to develop into a truly great team, Towns needs reps at the end of games. He needs reps at taking the last shot. He needs reps and winning and losing games.

This is not to say that Butler won’t get a chance. He will just need to be the Omega to Towns’ Alpha on occasion. Personally, I believe Jimmy Butler will buy into this, and he is saying all the right things, as he told the Chicago Suntimes earlier this offseason.

"Jimmy Butler: “It doesn’t mean a damn thing,” the three-time All-Star told the Sun-Times in a phone interview from Paris on Friday. “I guess being called the face of an organization isn’t as good as I thought. We all see where being the so-called face of the Chicago Bulls got me. So let me be just a player for the Timberwolves, man. That’s all I want to do. I just want to be winning games. Do what I can for my respective organization and let them realize what I’m trying to do. “Whatever they want to call me … face … I don’t even want to get into that anymore. Whose team is it? All that means nothing. You know what I’ve learned? Face of the team, eventually you’re going to see the back of his head as he’s leaving town, so no thanks.”"