5 trades the Minnesota Timberwolves should explore
By Connor Learn
3. Shabazz Muhammad to the Brooklyn Nets for Bojan Bogdanovic
Why this makes sense for the Timberwolves
Shabazz Muhammad came back from injury last year and was largely a role player. With only a certain number of shots to go around with all of Minnesota’s young talent, Muhammad never really caught the same stride he did during his second season. He set a career high with 35 points against the Warriors during an April victory, but never really played well consistently. This season has been more of the same for Shabazz Muhammad, and the 24-year old could surely benefit from a change of scenery.
The Timberwolves would acquire a player that they can really use. Bojan Bogdanovic is a 6-foot-8′ 225 pound wing who has been starting for the Nets. He has been a reliable source of scoring in Brooklyn and is currently averaging 14.2 points per game. However, he is best served as a role player and shooter off the bench. This is something the Timberwolves have been looking for out of their role players; the swap would do them well.
Why this makes sense for the Nets
At one point in time, Shabazz Muhammad was one of the most promising young players in the country. He was ranked atop the class of 2012 by many; a player that CBS analyst Greg Anthony called a “once in a generation talent.” He accepted a scholarship to UCLA and averaged 17.9 points per game in his only season of college. Many criticized him for inefficiency and questioned his real age and his draft stock slipped. Minnesota was able to get him at the No. 14 pick in 2013.
During his first three years in the NBA, Shabazz Muhammad has shown why he wasn’t an early first round pick. He made stints in the D-League during his rookie year and had an uneventful season. But he committed himself and appeared to be breaking out alongside Andrew Wiggins during his second year, averaging 16.9 points down during a 20 game stretch. He shot 39 percent from 3 and looked like he was fulfilling his potential. However, he was lost for the season due to injury in February.
The Brooklyn Nets are largely devoid of talent and don’t have any first round picks coming up. In order to find scoring, they are playing uptempo and trying to unearth scorers like they have with Sean Kilpatrick. Similarly to Kilpatrick, Shabazz Muhammad is a potential leading scorer who can be acquired cheaply. In short, he’s just the type of player the Nets should take a chance on.