The drama in Minnesota is intensifying and it’s not good news for Timberwolves fans.
According to Shams Charania of Stadium, big man Karl-Anthony Towns will not sign his contract extension until the Jimmy Butler situation is resolved. Butler is uncertain about his future with the franchise and will meet with Tom Thibodeau and Scott Layden today.
The All-Star small forward is reportedly fed up with the nonchalant attitude of Towns and the two players are not on good terms.
From our own @ShamsCharania, latest on Jimmy Butler seriously contemplating Minnesota future. pic.twitter.com/bi0cV3GXTE
— Stadium (@Stadium) September 17, 2018
Butler turned down the Timberwolves’ four-year, $110 million extension offer in July. Minnesota can offer Butler a max contract worth $187 million over five years. Should he walk, the largest deal Butler could secure elsewhere is $140 million over four seasons.
Karl-Anthony Towns is entering the final year of his rookie contract and currently slated to make $10.2 million in 2018-19. If he and the Timberwolves are unable to agree upon an extension before the season starts, Towns will enter restricted free agency in the summer of 2019.
The All-Star averaged 21.3 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists this past season, shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from three. Towns’ stellar play helped the Timberwolves make the playoffs in the rugged Western Conference for the first time since 2004.
