Timberwolves Rumors: Shabazz Muhammad Sent Home From Rookie Transition Program, Flip Saunders Says Minnesota D-League Assignment Coming If Behavior Continues

Aug 12, 2013 12:48 PM EDT

The Minnesota Timberwolves were thrilled to acquire UCLA freshman star Shabazz Muhammad in the NBA draft and while the player is immensely talented, they were disappointed to hear that he was kicked out of the Rookie Transition Program for having a girl in his room.

According to ESPN.com, the team said that Muhammad was dismissed Rookie Transition Program in New Jersey for breaking rules and confirmed at afterwards. Flip Saunders was on the radio after it happened and he said that if the behavior continues, the 20-year-old star could end up starting his career in the D-League.

The team has high expectations for Muhammad and the roster this season, especially with Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio healthy and back in action. ESPN.com reports that Muhammad had a girl in his room and that is why he was dismissed. The UCLA star was the 14th pick in the draft and he is going to be competing for playing time in Minnesota this preseason.

According to the report: "This is not the first incident in the program. In 2008, Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur were expelled after it was discovered that women and marijuana were in their room. Both players were fined $20,000. Michael Beasley, who was arrested Tuesday on a marijuana charge, also admitted he was in Chalmers and Arthur's room and was fined $50,000."

"In our league, you have to be disciplined and being 'disciplined' is being able to adhere to whatever rules are given and you gotta abide by the rules," Saunders said on the local radio host's show. "So that's been disappointing. But when I talk to him, he's either gonna learn the rules and learn to abide by things with the big boys or he's gonna really quick learn a geography class: where Des Moines is in the NBDL down in Iowa."

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