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2017 NBA free agency grades: Timberwolves to re-sign Shabazz Muhammad

By Dominique Clare

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 10: Shabazz Muhammad #15 of the Minnesota Timberwolves goes up for a dunk against the Dallas Mavericks on January 10, 2016 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 10: Shabazz Muhammad #15 of the Minnesota Timberwolves goes up for a dunk against the Dallas Mavericks on January 10, 2016 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Minnesota Timberwolves’ 2017 offseason was good enough to convince Shabazz Muhammad to return to the team next season despite other offers.

When an NBA team has a chance at making a playoff run, players want to be a part of that. The Minnesota Timberwolves found that out this offseason when Kyrie Irving listed the Wolves as a place he would like to be traded to. Even though the trade never happened, it was an indication that the Timberwolves are on to something.

The latest instance of this comes from a player who spent the 2016-17 season with the Wolves. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN announced on Twitter that Shabazz Muhammad will sign with the Timberwolves for the veteran minimum of $1.6 million.

This is excellent news for the Timberwolves, who are actively trying to complete their bench for next season. They are at a point where the veteran minimum is all they can offer. Hoping that guys are willing to join a team poised to make a playoff run is their best chance.  Muhammad had interest from other teams, so that was clearly the case here. Combine that with him being familiar with the team and city and Minnesota is your winner.

Is Shabazz Muhammad a good fit with the Wolves new roster?

Shabazz Muhammad is not the “3-and-D” player the Wolves were looking to add to the bench this offseason. With that being said, he was one of the best remaining free agents. The Wolves showed early interest in Tony Allen, who would have filled the team’s holes better, but Allen ended up signing a one-year, $2.3 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Even though his 3-point shooting and defense are spotty, Muhammad can still score the ball. His ability will allow the offense to produce points when head coach Tom Thibodeau elects to rest the starters. Muhammad and Jamal Crawford off the bench will make sure that no team can take a rest defensively. Crawford believes in the value of Muhammad and recruited him to re-sign with the Timberwolves.

Signing Muhammad to a veteran minimum is win for the Timberwolves. He is only 24 years old and still has a lot of upside to his game. He is good enough to fill in and start if injury causes the Wolves to go down that road. Last season he averaged 9.9 points per game playing in 78 games for the Wolves. The season before that he averaged 10.5 points per game, playing in all 82 games.

Young player making veteran decisions

Muhammad has his head in the right place because he is willing to take a pay cut to play for a playoff caliber team.

https://twitter.com/ShabazzMuhammad/status/907713503045279746

Playing on the Wolves is just as beneficial for Muhammad as it is for the team. If the Timberwolves make a deep run in the playoffs with solid contribution from Muhammad, his stock will rise. He will be in the national spotlight much more with Minnesota scheduled to play 25 nationally televised games during the 2017-18 season. That obviously does not include the playoffs, which would add more opportunities for him to showcase what he can do.

At the end of the day, the Minnesota Timberwolves got better with this signing. Fit is irrelevant because only being able to offer the veteran minimum does not allow them to be picky. Signing a 24-year-old that averages almost 10 points a game is an excellent signing and will help them down the stretch this upcoming season.

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Grade: A-

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