Jimmy Butler is playing this week. Get your popcorn.

With trade talks all dormant, Jimmy Butler practiced with the Timberwolves again this weekend (apparently without fireworks) and is on track to play for Minnesota when the regular season opens this week. The Wolves visit the Spurs on Sunday and host the Cavaliers on Friday. Both games are now absolutely must-watch.

Can you imagine the pressure on Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns given all the attention that will be focused on their effort and their mannerisms and their interactions with Butler? Jimmy can play relatively free -- we know who he is -- but those other guys might feel pressed to show a certain toughness or something. It’s weird!

Unless Jimmy has changed his mind about re-signing with the Timberwolves -- there is no indication of that -- Minnesota still needs to trade him before the February deadline to ensure they don’t lose him for nothing two years after trading a lot for him. The worst thing that could happen now is for the Timberwolves to convince themselves they can convince Jimmy to stay. (The second worst thing? An injury. Just saying.)

Meanwhile, how much longer can Tom Thibodeau last?

Patrick Baumann, international basketball’s longtime leader and guiding force, died tragically at the age of 51 over the weekend.

Baumann had been the secretary general of FIBA since 2003, and worked hard to formalize and professionalize the international sports federation. Among his biggest achievements: get 3x3 into the Olympics (a huge feat), change the competitive calendar (something I’ve opposed), and boost the organizations in smaller nations (really important and praiseworthy).

Baumann had one of the most important jobs in the basketball world, and did what he felt was best for the sport across the globe. He was also a member of the International Olympic Committee and seen as a future contender to run that organization.

Deepest sorrows and sympathies to his family and those who knew him.

NBA basketball is one day away.

What have referees had to do to adopt to the speed of the modern game?

Victor Oladipo spent his last weekend of the offseason hanging out with Joe Biden and supporting the campaign of Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly. Is any NBA player more popular in the state in which he plays more than Vic?

Will Donovan Mitchell take the next step toward superstardom?

Stellar celebration after a buzzer beater in the Greek second division.

Vince Carter has been dunking for eight years longer than any of us thought plausible.

Ultra deep dive by Danny Leroux on the mechanics of cap tinkering the Warriors are pulling off at the margins.

This story on LeBron trying to be patient and feel kinship with his much younger teammates is excellent but after seeing Brandon Ingram’s quote about how it’s impossible to get Bron to stop listening to Young Dolph now I can’t stop imagining LeBron as Steve Buscemi from the viral 30 Rock scene where he says, “How do you do, fellow kids?”

Jonathan Tjarks makes the case joining the Knicks next summer would bolster Kevin Durant’s legacy more than sticking with the Warriors would.

Sekou Smith ranks the top 10 players under the age of 25.

Tom Haberstroh did the impossible: he got me excited to watch Hassan Whiteside.

Ranking the entertainment value of each NBA team.

Nathaniel Friedman on how high Ben Simmons can soar and how we’ll watch it happen.

And finally: LeBron on stage with Drake and Travis Scott at STAPLES Center is pretty much a perfect encapsulation of why L.A. was the choice this summer.

Be excellent to each other.