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Minnesota Timberwolves: Playing the Butler’s advocate

By Pat Hall

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 29: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Jimmy Butler #23 react during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 29, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 29: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Jimmy Butler #23 react during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 29, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Timberwolves, Jimmy Butler
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 29: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Butler the Scapegoat

The Timberwolves are currently third-to-last in the West and are winless on the road. To say that’s not the start they wanted is like calling the sinking of the Titanic “a little bit of a bummer.”

In times of unrest, someone must be to blame. And Butler, in all fairness, made it easy for those fingers to be pointed at him.

Without the trade request, without the outburst at practice (or really, the follow-up heat-of-the-moment interview with Rachel Nichols), the blame would have been cast in a few directions instead of one.

Some would blame ownership for the way the team was put together, some would blame Thibodeau because the coach is always an easy target. Some really would blame Butler for the sporadic offense and the distraction of turning down the contract this past summer.

However, more blame would be placed where it should be, on the two franchise players of Wiggins and Towns.

Next. Jimmy Butler trade ideas to the Lakers. dark

But, Jimmy Butler is leaving town soon anyway, right? Might as well make him the bad guy.

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