It’s a reflection on how toxic the atmosphere around the Timberwolves has become that noted provocateur Kevin Garnett appeared to be a voice of reason from the outside looking in over the weekend. No stranger to the type of trash talking that erstwhile top dog Jimmy Butler hitherto resorted to in practice, the future Hall of Famer argued in an interview with The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski that “both sides are a little delusional.”
Here’s the thing, though: Garnett is right. He’s on the mark in pointing out that Butler doesn’t have “the power to come out and force a trade like this … I think Jimmy thinks his worth is a little more than what it is.” He’s likewise correct in contending that the Timberwolves are in “a s — tstorm” that figures to be better addressed sooner rather than later. “I’m just hoping they can get through this rough patch and everybody can get on the same patch and figure it out.”
Significantly, ESPN.com’s Adrian Wojnarowski disclosed that Butler’s alpha-male bellicosity in practice lit a fire under the Timberwolves. The scribe said “many of the Minnesota players left practice energized by [his] performance, mesmerized with him taking several end-of-the-bench players and running the table in scrimmage games against the regulars.” The implicit message: He’s a leader who’s just bent on motivating those around him.
Which is all well and good, save for a couple of crucial facts. First, Butler wants a change of address, and he believes the problem he has with the Timberwolves won’t be solved by anything other than a divorce. Second, the future belongs to Karl-Anthony Towns, who’s all of 22, and who just inked a five-year, $190-million contract. Going off during a scrimmage with an eye out the door serves only to inflate self-worth and runs counter to promoting esprit de corps, especially when the heir apparent possesses a more subdued personality.
To be sure, the Timberwolves have become equally complicit. By refusing to deal Butler as fast as possible, they’re perpetuating a fractured status quo. They let him run practice supposedly to prop his teammates up, and then allow him to miss the next preseason game. Little wonder, then, that they wound up suffering a loss debilitating enough for Towns to publicly lament its implications.
Clearly, the Timberwolves need to take a stand, and pronto. Above all else, they have to ship Butler out before the regular season starts later this week. Sure, they’ll be getting pennies to the dollar. Considering how they’ve latched on to Towns, however, they have no choice but to take a step back now in order to move two steps ahead. Else, they’ll be taking a myopic view at the expense of long-term gains; they’ll be riding on the shoulders of a workhorse who can’t wait to leave at the expense of another All-Star, who needs to be given a chance to shine even by force of circumstance.
For the Timberwolves, yesterday should have been the time to act. Butler’s departure can’t come soon enough.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.
