MINNEAPOLIS -- In his first comments since trading Jimmy Butler, Minnesota Timberwolves coach and president Tom Thibodeau was surgical in describing the deal that sent the All-Star guard to Philadelphia.
"I said from the beginning, you always have to put the organization first," Thibodeau said. "So you set the parameters for what you are looking for and once we felt we got to that point where the offers met some of the things we were looking for, then we said, 'OK, now it's time.'"
Throughout the prolonged end to Butler's time in Minnesota -- from when he made his trade request to when he was finally dealt east -- Thibodeau has publicly maintained that he would do what would yield the best payoff for the organization.