Butler to rest vs. Jazz, travel to face Warriors

As the Minnesota Timberwolves remain stagnant in trade talks for Jimmy Butler, the All-Star forward has expressed his intention to join the team on its trip to Golden State for Friday night’s game, league sources told ESPN.

Butler will miss Wednesday’s home game against Utah for what the team is calling “general soreness and precautionary rest.”

Houston, Miami and Philadelphia are among the teams struggling early that have an interest in Butler, but there’s a collective belief that Timberwolves president and coach Tom Thibodeau isn’t ready to seriously negotiate a trade yet, league sources said.

Thibodeau discussed with Butler and the medical staff his absence for Wednesday’s game. However, Butler has told associates that he plans to play against the Warriors on Friday night, sources told ESPN.

Butler and his representative continue to express frustration in what they believe is Minnesota’s inaction in honoring his trade request, and they have been pushing owner Glen Taylor to speed up the process, sources said.