Jimmy Butler challenges teammates, staff in emotional practice return

Jimmy Butler is back with the Timberwolves and challenging just about everybody.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com reports after demanding a trade and sitting out from the Timberwolves, the talented all-star small forward returned to practice and challenged everybody. Woj reports Butler was “vociferous” and “emotional” as he targeted coach Tom Thibodeau, forward Karl-Anthony Towns, forward Andrew Wiggins and GM Scott Layden.

All-Star Jimmy Butler participated in Minnesota's practice, a session that included him verbally challenging teammates, coaches and front office, league sources told ESPN. Butler was vociferous and emotional at times, targeting Thibodeau/Layden/Towns/Wiggins. Story soon on ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 10, 2018

On top of that, Butler told Layden “you can’t win without me” and left everybody in the building speechless.

At one point in a scrimmage, sources said, Butler turned to GM Scott Layden and screamed, "You (bleeping) need me. You can't win without me." Butler left teammates and coaches largely speechless. He dominated the gym in every way. Jimmy's back.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 10, 2018

To be a fly on the wall of the Timberwolves practices.

At least we know how one teammate reacted.

Anthony Tolliver on Butler practicing: "He was … around. That's really all I gotta say about that."

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) October 10, 2018

The entire franchise is a mess at the moment. Butler doesn’t want to be there and is now openly shit-talking his entire team. It’s a toxic situation the Timberwolves should resolve immediately. Butler’s a dynamic talent who unquestionably makes the team better, but is he worth all this drama? Just trade him and move on. He doesn’t want to be there and is getting more dramatic and imploding his trade value with each passing day in hopes of forcing a deal.

I love when the league is unnecessarily dramatic. In this case, the only person who wins until Butler traded are fans of entertainment. Let’s see if this latest outburst gets Butler out of Minnesota.