Jimmy Butler may leave Timberwolves in a year: ESPN

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Jimmy Butler, All-Star shooting guard/small forward of NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves will probably leave the team in a year, said ESPN's Nick Friedell who started covering the team after Butler arrived in Minnesota.

"Being around that (Timberwolves) team a lot last year, I think Jimmy is probably going to be gone a year from right now somewhere else and there is the problem," said Friedell as a guest of ESPN's The Jump.

It has been known by almost everyone that Butler wants to leave Minnesota since they were knocked out by the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2017-18 NBA playoffs. Though it was the first time the team made it to the playoffs since 2004, Butler was not happy with the team's performance and attitude, both on the court and during training sessions.

Andrew Wiggins plays another disappointing season about which Jimmy Butler is not happy. /VCG Photo

Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns are two such players. With outstanding physical conditions like his, Wiggins did not meet people's expectations most of the time and has been unreliable in defense. Towns got totally lost in the playoffs and looked like a rookie in front of Houston's Clint Capela.

What made things worse was that Wiggins signed a five-year contract of 148 million US dollars in 2017 and Towns may be offered a five-year contract of 188 million dollars. Considering their current conditions and the scary number of their salaries, the Timberwolves may have no room for further improvement if Towns signs that contract.

Butler has been known for being eager to win and working hard. If Minnesota cannot make themselves a better team, he may have more reasons to leave.

Karl-Anthony Twons #32 watches Clint Capela #15 ruin his playoff debut without effective counter strike. /VCG Photo

"I think the Timberwolves are stuck with what they have right now and the problem is they’re going to be stuck with Towns and Wiggins if Jimmy leaves – and that team is not good enough," said Friedell.

Surely the Timberwolves is not willing to let Butler go next summer for nothing, which makes sending him away in a deal the best ,and probably the only option they have. Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report reported that Butler is open to joining LeBron James in Los Angeles.

However, chances of that deal happening are small because it will definitely take future draft picks and promising young men like Brandon Ingram to exchange for an All-Star player like Butler. Considering that the Lakers refused to give up Ingram for Paul George and DeMarcus Cousins, it's hard to imagine that they will change their mind for Butler.

The Los Angeles Lakers will probably not put Brandon Ingram #14 in any deal, including for Butler. /VCG Photo

Minnesota's management team will have to rack their brains before the transfer window closes this season.

(Top picture: Jimmy Butler of NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves /VCG Photo)