Shabazz Muhammad (SG/SF, MIN) - NBA Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add for High Upside with Efficient Percentages

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Lineup changes abound in Minnesota as the Timberwolves start taking an eye to the future in another year as non-contenders. Kevin Martin is in the permanent "DNP-Coach's Decision" zone until the Wolves find a trade partner to take him off their hands. While he was previously considered next-in-line at the 2, the Minnesota brass has apparently decided Zach LaVine is not the answer as starting shooting guard, and he now finds himself on the bench having averaged only 18.9 MPG over his last four outings. Instead, the Timberwolves have shifted their young cornerstone wing Andrew Wiggins to the starting backcourt alongside Ricky Rubio. This makes veteran Tayshaun Prince -- on the team more for his mentorship than for his ability to play big minutes -- the nominal starting small forward, which opens up a ton of minutes in the rotation at the 3.

This is where 23-year-old Shabazz Muhammad comes in.  In a run as starter from 12/19-1/9 last season before he underwent season-ending surgery, Muhammad had a very nice 11 game stretch averaging 16.7 pts, 5.0 reb, 2.3 ast, and 1.3 3pm on outstanding percentages in a .463 FG% and .842 FT%.  Coming into this season, the Wolves brought him back along very slowly and he was mostly buried on the bench in favor of Wiggins, Prince, Martin, and LaVine.  Now with Wiggins at the 2, Muhammad is being given a chance to shine again.  He put up a gem of a line on Monday in a loss to the 76ers, scoring 20 points on 8 of 11 shooting and 3 of 4 from the line. He tacked on 1 three, 3 rebounds, and a steal.

Muhammad is not going to score 20 points every night, but he seems to be the man of the hour in Minnesota right now. The Wolves need to find out if playing Wiggins and Muhammad as the wings is a better answer than playing Wiggins and LaVine. Shabazz is going to get plenty of opportunity to prove that it is, and if he gets the minutes, his efficient game will prove to be very fantasy friendly.