Garnett calls Wolves, Butler 'a little delusional'


Reuters | Updated: 13-10-2018 05:24 IST | Created: 13-10-2018 05:24 IST

Longtime Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett said Friday that the team and forward Jimmy Butler are both "a little delusional" in their positions regarding Butler's trade demand.

In an interview with The Athletic, Garnett described the situation in Minnesota as "a storm up there," two days after Butler caused a stir at practice by reportedly challenging teammates, coaches and front office executives with verbal jabs. It was Butler's first practice since demanding a trade as he enters the final year of his contract.

"I think both sides are a little delusional," Garnett said. "I think Jimmy thinks his worth is a little more than what it is. He's a very good player. I don't see him on the [Kevin Durant] and LeBron level. But if they are A-plus, he's definitely A, A-minus.

"I don't know if he had the power to come out and force a trade like this. He can be disruptive, but I don't know if he actually had the clout to come out and do that. I don't know if Jimmy has enough juice to be that."

Garnett also said he can see where Butler's fieriness in practice comes from, citing his own history as an instigator and disrupter when he felt the team needed motivation.

"You don't think that I went crazy sometimes? Man, I was a Tasmanian devil," the ever colorful Garnett told The Athletic. "I would say at (Kevin) McHale. I would say at Flip (Saunders). But it was all to motivate all of us."

Where Garnett drew the line was requesting a trade, something he never did despite winning just two playoff series in 12 years with the team. He had to be lobbied to accept a trade to the Boston Celtics before the 2007-08 season.

"I never requested a trade because I viewed 'Sota as mine," Garnett said. "I built this house. I'm not leaving this house. You can get the up out of here. You don't like it, then leave. ... I never asked for a trade because I never wanted to be traded."

The 15-time All-Star also lamented how public the interactions between Butler and his team have been, as reports have detailed a number of interactions within the building since Butler returned to the team this week.

"What's really the storm is that can't nobody keep in practice," Garnett said. "What goes on in practice should always stay in practice. And what goes on between two conglomerates as businesses should always stay (private). Everything is so public now."

ESPN reported in detail on Butler's first practice Wednesday, even quoting the forward screaming at general manager Scott Layden, "You need me. You can't win without me."

On Thursday, The Athletic reported Butler held a players-only meeting to tell his teammates his issues were not with them but with management. However, point guard Jeff Teague went on Twitter to call that report "fake news," saying there was no such meeting.

The Timberwolves canceled Thursday's practice.

Butler told ESPN's Rachel Nichols on Wednesday evening that the situation is "not fixed," adding, ""It could be. Do I think so? No."

Either way, Garnett said he's a "T-Wolf for life" and will continue rooting for his old team.

"I'm just hoping they can get through this rough patch and everybody can get on the same patch and figure it out," he said.

--Field Level Media

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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