Shabazz Muhammad wants Timberwolves to trade or release him

A significant role has not materialized this season, so Shabazz Muhammad wants the Timberwolves to get rid or him.

After a couple solid seasons off the bench, Shabazz Muhammad came back to the Minnesota Timberwolves on a two-year deal with a player option late in the offseason. He he has now not played in 24 of the team’s last 33 games, and according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski Muhammad has privately requested to be moved or waived before Thursday’s trade deadline.

Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau is notorious for his short rotations and using his bench very little, and that has been no different now in his second season in Minnesota. In 31 games (two starts) this season, Muhammad is averaging just 3.7 points and 9.6 minutes per game. In each of the previous three seasons, the 14th overall pick in the 2013 draft averaged more than 19 minutes per game (more than 20 minutes per game twice) off the Timberwolves’ bench.

Thibodeau values defensive effort, and Muhammad falls short in that area. Traditional and advanced stats back that up, and anything the coaching staff keeps track of defensively surely show black marks for Muhammad.

If Muhammad is not contributing offensively, his value is virtually nil or slightly negative. His downturn this season can be chalked up to lack of playing time, with per-36 minute shot volume (14.1 field goal attempts) close to what he has done previously.

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With him making just over $1.5 million this season, and next year’s close to $1.8 million being his option, someone could easily take on the remainder of Muhammad’s salary if the Timberwolves decide to waive him. His trade value is hard to peg, if it exists at all, so simply letting Muhammad go without trying to get a return may be the best course if Muhammad wants out. And Thibodeau will be driving that decision, as president of basketball operations as well as coach.