Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 takeaways from recent success

1. Addition by subtraction

When the Timberwolves acquired Butler from the Bulls, they were getting a guy who had become one of the better two-way players in the league and he did so by sheer hard work. Unfortunately, after one year with the team, Butler decided he wanted to be elsewhere.

Not only that, he challenged his teammates, the coaching staff and the organization as a whole, stating that they needed him in order to win.

For those of you who have been following Butler over the last couple of seasons, this recent outburst may have not come as a total shock. After all, this was the same player who publicly stated that the Bulls needed to be coached harder following a loss to the New York Knicks during the 2015-16 season.

To be objective, what Butler brings to the table cannot be debated. He has become a capable scorer and imposes his will on the defensive end of the floor as well. On the flip side of the coin, regardless of the talent level an athlete has been gifted with, that player should never think he is the primary season for the success of the team he plays for.

As the old adage goes, a house divided against itself cannot stand. Bearing this in mind, the biggest reason why the Minnesota Timberwolves have turned things around is because they parted ways with a player who acted as if he were bigger than the team itself.