There are several NBA teams that have expressed interest in acquiring Timberwolves swingman Shabazz Muhammad, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports (via Twitter). It is unclear which franchises have checked in on Muhammad, though Wojnarowski’s sources inform him that Minnesota, despite having depth at the wing, is unwilling to trade the 23-year-old.
It’s understandable that the Wolves would be hesitant to deal away Muhammad, who is under contract through the 2016/17 campaign after the team exercised his fourth year option back in October. Young, controllable talent like Muhammad will likely be a valuable commodity in the league once the salary cap increases as expected in time for next season and player salaries jump along with that cap bump. Muhammad would be eligible to hit restricted free agency after the completion of the 2016/17 season, but Minnesota would have the right to match any offer sheet the forward were to sign, provided it submitted a qualifying offer to the player worth $4,237,401.
Muhammad’s NBA career didn’t begin to take off until his second season, when he averaged 13.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game, though it should be noted that was over just 38 appearances, including 13 starts. He’s appeared in all 20 contests for the Wolves thus far this season, averaging 8.0 points and 2.6 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per night.
Shabazz is real “explosive” off the drible.
This season the Wolves haven’t really given Shabazz a chance. They insist on giving minutes old guys like Prince and Martin in losing causes; its like the Twins and David Ortiz when they didn’t really give him a chance and didn’t really know what they had.
I think we need to relax and relax and realize Shabazz shouldn’t and if we are smart wont be moved. He is obviously ascending into a player we can really count on and will be so valuable in the future next year and beyond. He isn’t playing now yes, but he will in the future when the old players are gone and done giving them all the wisdom they need. Shabazz will get big minutes in the future as a sixth man type if he is patient and just uses this year to continue to prove he is getting better and possibly a staple of the team. He needs to learn how his younger guys and guys he will play with like Nemanja and gorgui who he has a nice connection with already. Only thing Bazz should be thinking about is proving he is a beast which he is and showing those other 12 or 13 teams why they messed up in not picking him and why he is about to be getting a fat paycheck in Minnesota and making the playoffs with a team set up to look somewhat like the warriors but more explosive
I think Shabazz is a good player. But i wouldnt mind seeing him go. He doesn’t fit in with the starting rotation of Wiggins, KAT, Rubio, and progressing, soon to be starting 2 guard, LaVine, because Shabazz shoots “way more” then he passes. And i think the team would rather see Wiggins, LaVine and KAT shoot before bazz does. And I assume he won’t want to be coming off the bench forever. trade him.
He is too good and Prince won’t be around forever.