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Minnesota Timberwolves: Can anyone trust Jimmy Butler?

By Kedar Hiremath

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 19: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves runs onto the court during player introductions before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 19, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, 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. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 19: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves runs onto the court during player introductions before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 19, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, 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. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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How much of Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins’ struggles last year and early on this year can be attributed to Jimmy Butler?

A second year of Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Jimmy Butler should make the Minnesota Timberwolves one of the best teams in the West. However, both KAT and Wiggins’ numbers declined during Butler’s first year, is it just their fault if they continue to decline?

Throughout the past few months, the Minnesota Timberwolves have been the headline on multiple media outlets, and not for the best of reasons.

With the Jimmy Butler saga taking different twists, management tried to maneuver and appease their players’ needs. Andrew Wiggins (23 years old and signed for five years and $148 million) and Karl-Anthony Towns (22 years old and signed for five years at $190 million) are the cornerstones of the future in the Twin Cities.

However, both their numbers have regressed since the acquisition of Butler from the Chicago Bulls. This season, Minnesota is off to a so-so start at 2-3, but they have to build on last year’s playoff appearance and move up in the Western Conference rankings. If they regress and teammates get disenchanted as the season goes on, Butler will likely not receive a maximum contract offer next season.

We might already be seeing a more apathetic Karl-Anthony Towns after last nights showing where he literally demanded head coach Tom Thibodeau to take him out of the game.

To comprehend this drama, there are a few things you need to understand about Jimmy Butler.

Jimmy Buckets was the last selection of the 2011 NBA draft. Not many 30th-overall picks carve out a long NBA playing career, let alone morph into a franchise player. However, the hardworking headcase that is Jimmy Butler became a four-time All-Star and has been regarded around the league as one of the fiercest competitors.

During his six seasons in Chicago, the Bulls went to the playoffs five times and finished every year with a .500 winning percentage or better. Butler went from averaging 2.6 points per game as a defensive specialist in his rookie year to 23.9 points per game and the go-to player during his final Bulls season.

That immediately sounds like the “Rudy” of basketball, but with more of a competitive attitude.

When he was traded to Minnesota, the Wolves ended a 14-year playoff drought and now are viewed as an upcoming playoff team in the Western Conference. Ultimately, Butler brings swag and a winning mentality to the young Wolves, who are searching for an identity in the heavily competitive Western Conference.

So, what’s the problem?

A trio of KAT, Wiggins, and Butler can flat out ball! They can compete with the best in the West, including the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors – at times. But Butler needs to do a better job of getting his teammates involved; since the addition of Butler, Wiggins’ per-game numbers have dropped across the board: total shots (19 to 16), free throws (6.6 to 3.8), and points (23.6 to 17.7).

And once again, Wiggins is struggling to adjust with Butler in the lineup. Through four games, he’s only shooting 43 percent from the field while averaging only 15.8 points. The same has happened for KAT  as his scoring (25.1 to 21.3) and PER (25.9 to 24.9) both decreased over the last two seasons.

That’s not going to get it done.

As for Jimmy Butler, his assist average dropped when he was traded to Minnesota from 5.5 to 4.9. His defensive wins share (3.8 to 1.8) and total wins share (13.8 to 8.9) also declined.

Fortunately, Jimmy Butler is still a great enough asset to get a hefty return in a trade (or at-least we thought he was…).

Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations Tom Thibodeau gave up a lot (Zack LaVine, Kris Dunn, and the draft rights for Lauri Markkanen – who is turning into a franchise player for the Bulls) to acquire Butler. The trade would be an albatross for the Wolves if Butler leaves in free agency.

If Butler wants to receive the max next season, he needs to be a better team player. Owner Glen Taylor has invested over a quarter of a billion dollars in both KAT and Wiggins, and if they aren’t being utilized properly, that’s going to reflect negatively on Butler among other NBA teams and they will shy away from committing a max contract to him for his lack of leadership to essentially make the roster work.

3 options to replace Tom Thibodeau. dark. Next

Of course, as I’ve stated, that blame will fall on Taylor and Thibs, too.

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