Ben Simmons trade rumors: Wolves still pursuing star, but may need win-now assets from third team, per report

Regardless of all experiences suggesting that Ben Simmons desires to go away the Philadelphia 76ers, the crew has refused to budge relating to value. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski not too long ago reported that the 76ers need a James Harden-esque package deal of draft picks and gamers in return for Simmons, and to date, no crew has confirmed keen to satisfy that value. With the majority of the transactional interval of the offseason now concluded, Philadelphia goes to have a a lot more durable time discovering a suitor. 

One occasion that’s nonetheless ? The Minnesota Timberwolves. Based on The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski, the Timberwolves have continued discussions with Philadelphia on a doable Simmons deal, however would possibly want a 3rd crew to create the kind of win-now package deal that Philadelphia is in search of. 

If Philadelphia desires a Harden-esque return of draft picks, Minnesota might theoretically accommodate them. The Timberwolves nonetheless management all of their very own first-round picks, so a deal involving a number of and a few doable swaps can be on the desk. The issue for the Timberwolves is that Philadelphia nonetheless desires to win with Joel Embiid somewhat than take a step again because the Houston Rockets did of their Harden commerce. That will seemingly imply, at a naked minimal, that veteran starters D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley must be concerned in a deal as properly. 

Russell is the normal pick-and-roll level guard that Philadelphia has lacked in the course of the Simmons period, however as an in depth good friend of Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns, it’s unclear if Minnesota can be keen to deal him. Beasley is equally fraught, however for various causes. He simply accomplished a 78-day jail sentence after pleading responsible to threatening a household with a rifle. Krawczynski additionally notes that the recently-acquired Patrick Beverley who has already been concerned in two trades this offseason, might issue into the equation right here. He can be a match on a win-now 76ers crew, or he might head to a doable third crew within the deal. 

Discovering the kind of win-now items Philadelphia would need goes to be sophisticated for Minnesota. The one two superstars which can be seemingly in the marketplace proper now are Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard, and if their groups have been able to commerce them, Philadelphia would seemingly offer Simmons already. Maybe a deal involving a number of lesser veterans and picks might work, however for now, even when Minnesota is the prime Simmons suitor, it seems as if a deal nonetheless is not shut.