Who Says No?: Timberwolves trade for Ben Simmons?
ESPN's Zach Lowe has offered some Ben Simmons trade scenarios, and one involves the Minnesota Timberwolves
After his abysmal playoff showing, it feels like a foregone conclusion the Philadelphia 76ers will trade Ben Simmons this offseason. He and Joel Embiid can work together, but at this point Simmons is not the second-best player on any team with legit championship aspirations. Or at least, the third of a “Big 3” has to be a better player than Tobias Harris.
ESPN’s Zach Lowe has gone through a bunch of possible Simmons trade scenarios, and there will be a market for him. Here’s a deal Lowe offered involving the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Lowe suggests D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley to the 76ers for Simmons. That 2-for-1 deal does not work when taken for a spin with ESPN’s Trade Machine, but a 1-for-1 sending Russell to Philadelphia does work. The 76ers should want more than Russell from Minnesota though, and Jarrett Culver works as a substitute for Beasley (as would Josh Okogie). Beasley and Ricky Rubio to the 76ers would work, if the 76ers would entertain that as the core of a deal.
But let’s say the Timberwolves offer Russell and either Culver or Okogie to the 76ers for Simmons. Who says no?
Well, since it’s Minnesota coming with the offer, let’s assume the deal is one that’s to their liking. Russell is the kind of offensive player the 76ers need, and a young player like Culver or Okogie could be a nice fit too.
That said, the 76ers is in line to get better offers than any Minnesota can come with. But at first glance there are pieces the Timberwolves can offer that fit, and maybe a draft pick could be a sweetener.
Do you think the Timberwolves should make an offer for Ben Simmons? Who should they offer? Russell is an easy one, but there are other options.