Report: Jimmy Butler Won't Be at Timberwolves Training Camp

Minnesota granted Butler permission to skip the team's start to training camp.

Jimmy Butler will be absent from the Timberwolves' media day on Monday and their first practice of training camp on Tuesday, according to ESPN. 

Butler was granted permission by Minnesota on Saturday to miss the team's season-opening activities, per The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski. Butler is expected to miss all of Minnesota's on-court activities for the early portion of training camp. 

The four-time All-Star requested a trade from Minnesota on Thursday after meeting with head coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau. And while opposing teams have reportedly seen their offers "rebuffed" by Minnesota executives, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor appears open to dealing Butler. 

Thibodeau hasn't given up on keeping his superstar. He reportedly met with Butler on Monday per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowksi, attempting to convince Butler to join the team in the preseason. But Butler is expected to decline Thibodeau's request and await a trade from Minnesota.

Minnesota Timberwolves President/Coach Tom Thibodeau met with All-Star forward Jimmy Butler on Monday and tried to convince him to eventually rejoin the team in the preseason, league sources tell ESPN. Butler is sitting out, awaiting the organization to honor his trade request.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 25, 2018

Minnesota enters 2018-19 looking to make the playoffs for the second-straight season. The Timberwolves secured the No. 8 seed in the West last year, going 47–35 before losing to the Rockets in the Western Conference playoffs.