The weird case of Jimmy Butler

NBA fans know Jimmy Butler currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Before that he spent a few years with the Chicago Bulls. Fans also know neither of these teams has been any good lately. The chances of winning anything worthwhile? Virtually zero. So dear Jimmy is looking to go to greener pastures. Or is he?

Reportedly Butler demanded a trade from the T-Wolves. Money? Let's not forget JT turned down a four-year contract worth around $100 million not long ago.

A lot of players have taken less money in order to play for a contender -- have a shot at a "ring". So one would think JT would want to go to a team that has a fighting chance, at least. One would be wrong.

He's given the T-Wolves a list of which teams he'd prefer. Among them, the New Jersey Nets, NY Knicks, and LA Clippers.

Say what?

The Clips haven't been any good since they lost both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Even when they had them, they were a second tier team in the West. The Nets and Knicks are just awful. They stink.

Even if JT got a gazillion dollars, signing a long-term deal with any of them effectually seals his fate. He can play out the rest of his career but better get used to losing even more than he did with the T-Wolves and Bulls.

What seemed even odder is he wanted to meet with T-Wolves boss Tom Thibideau to talk it over.

But in Los Angeles.

Huh?

He wants the Minnesota shot-caller to fly all the way out to LA to sit down for a meeting?

Comment overheard by one Frank Isola, a sports scribe. "Maybe Thibideau should ask him if he wants a private jet, a yacht, or a gold watch, while he's at it. Anything else Jimmy?" Touche.

On the same show (Around the Horn), long-time Denver pundit Woody Paige went one better. To wit:

"If he wants to go to California so bad, only to discuss him being moved to a terrible team, trade him to the Sacramento Kings and see how he likes that". Good one, Woodrow.

Sometimes you just have to kick back and wonder what is going through the heads of some of these jocks.

Great ballers, but apparently dumber than bricks.