Shabazz Muhammad has expressed how unhappy he has been with his lack of playing time for the Minnesota Timberwolves this season. He was hoping to move on, and the Timberwolves granted him his wish by buying him out on Thursday. The buyout happened on March 1, the final day a player could be bought out and still be playoff-eligible if they sign with another team. The Milwaukee Bucks will be the team that will pick him up once he clears waivers.
Lack of playing time irked Muhammad
After averaging 20.5 Minutes Per Game in the previous three seasons, the 25-year-old Muhammad is averaging a scant 9.4 this season.
Not only that, but he had a stretch of 13 straight games where he didn’t play due to coach’s decision. In his 32 appearances this season, he has posted per game averages of 3.8 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.2 assists. He has shot 47-121 (38.8 percent) from the field, 4-19 (21.1 percent) on three-point tries, and 22-31 (71 percent) from the foul line. He averaged a career-high 13.5 points per game in 2014-15 which was his second year in the league. Muhammad hasn’t been much of a three-point threat, shooting 31.7 percent on 1.4 attempts per game in his career.
Moving on to the Bucks
The Bucks have lost three straight and currently reside in seventh place in the Eastern Conference at 33-28.
Muhammad has spent much of his time playing at the small forward or shooting guard position.
Milwaukee mostly utilizes Tony Snell as the starting shooting guard and Khris Middleton as the starting small forward. The Bucks’ main backup at those two positions has been Sterling Brown, a rookie who was a second-round pick. Last year’s Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon plays a bunch of minutes at shooting guard as well, but he is out with a torn left quadricep.
Without much depth at those positions, it is not hard to see Muhammad carving out a role as one of their key bench pieces, potentially seeing 15-20 minutes per game.
Kilpatrick waived to make room
In order to free up the necessary roster spot to add Muhammad to the roster, Milwaukee parted ways with Sean Kilpatrick. He was waived before midnight on Thursday which will allow him to be playoff-eligible if he signs with another team.
Kilpatrick was picked up by the Bucks in December after he was released by the Brooklyn Nets. He made 23 appearances with Milwaukee and averaged 4.0 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 8.9 minutes per game. In a larger role with the Nets in 2016-17, the 28-year-old averaged 13.1 points in 70 games.
