A month following reports of Shabazz Muhammad’s initial interest in leaving Minnesota, a buyout agreement has reportedly been reached, according to ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski.
It was officially announced an hour later.
Muhammad reportedly told the Wolves of his discontent in early February, with hopes to be either bought out or traded. As the deadline passed, it seemed less likely that an agreement would be reached.
But a deal got done just in time for Muhammad’s camp. As Wojnarowski mentions, him being released Thursday means he can still be signed by a playoff team and get minutes in the postseason. The deadline is at 11:59 p.m. ET Thursday night.
But based on his play this season, the odds of that happening are slim.
After starting the season in the rotation – and even starting a pair of games while Jimmy Butler recovered from the flu – Muhammad slowly lost his place in Tom Thibodeau’s rotation. He’s shooting career-lows in most statistical metrics, including field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and rebounds.
Muhammad had his best season in 2014-15 – his second season – when he averaged 13.5 points and 4.1 rebounds on 48.9 percent shooting from the field and 39.2 shooting from deep.
According to Zach Harper of FanRag Sports, he was offered a four-year, $40 million extension with Minnesota in 2017, but turned it down.
With this move, the Timberwolves now have two open roster spots. The Timberwolves haven’t played Muhammad – or fellow bench wing Marcus Georges-Hunt – in Butler’s absence.
No reports have surfaced about a subsequent Wolves signing, but the buyout of Muhammad may well be the first domino to fall in a small series of roster adjustments as the Wolves look to complete their playoff push.
Another option could be for Thibodeau to call up two-way contract signees Anthony Brown and Amile Jefferson, who have spent the majority of the season playing and practicing with the Iowa Wolves.
Thibodeau kept it vague when approached about his G-League pieces.
We’ll have more on this as it becomes available.
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