Huge extension keeps Towns in Minnesota

Karl-Anthony Towns is getting a new deal from the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Jimmy Butler is still waiting to get a new address.

Towns announced on Saturday night that he is recommitting to the Timberwolves, securing his future there while Butler's remains a mystery.

A source with knowledge of the negotiations told Associated Press that Towns will be signing a five-year super-max extension worth $190 million.

The source spoke on condition of anonymity because neither the team nor Towns publicly revealed the financial terms of the deal.

Towns posted a video to social media with the wording"5 More" - a clear nod to the length of the contract.

"On June 25th, 2015, I was drafted to and committed to the Minnesota Timberwolves," Towns wrote in an Instagram post.

"On September 22nd, 2018, I made a recommitment to the Wolves and have the same feelings of excitement that I felt back in 2015."

Towns, entering his fourth season, was an All-Star for the first time a year ago and was Minnesota's second-highest scorer last season at 21.3 points per game.

Butler, the team's leading scorer last season, remains in limbo.

He told the Timberwolves several days ago that he has no intention of staying with the club for the long term and wants a trade.

The Athletic reported on Saturday that Butler will not be appearing at Minnesota's media day on Monday, or the first day of training camp on Tuesday - although it's entirely possible the Wolves might trade him by then.

A source familiar with the talks has told AP that the Timberwolves have had some conversations with clubs, talks that were originally described as the team "gauging what the trade market might be" for Butler.

Butler led Minnesota with 22.2 points per game last season.

If he gets traded, which seems more than likely now, he will be on a third team in little over a year. The Chicago Bulls traded him to the Timberwolves on draft night in 2017.

Towns was the No 1 overall pick by Minnesota in 2015. He hasn't missed a single game in his pro career, playing and starting in all 82 in each of his three regular seasons as well as five playoff games.

"I promise to the fans, my teammates and the organization to keep the vision of the man who drafted me, Flip Saunders alive and treat his dream of winning with respect and dignity," Towns said. "To the fans from Day 1 and the Timberwolves fans, this is for you. Thank you for believing in me."

Associated Press