The Minnesota Timberwolves are at a crossroads in their franchise. They could choose to further their investment in youth this offseason, or go all-in on getting another star to put around Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards.
Ben Simmons could be one of general manager Gersson Rosas’s top targets if the team wants to move with the latter option. He’s a young perennial defensive player of the year candidate with several years left on his contract.
Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 trades to acquire Ben Simmons
The Timberwolves are going to have to do something this offseason if they want to make a playoff push next year – even if it was only for a play in spot. Long term mediocrity is not good -although rushing to get off of younger assets also can be detrimental to the long-term future of the franchise. There has to be a good balance, and Ben Simmons very well could be the answer.
Again, though, the Timberwolves are going to have to be ambitious with their assets, and targeting desperate teams (Trail Blazers, 76ers, any other team that disappointed in the playoffs) is going to have to be the route taken by management – especially without a single draft pick this offseason.
The price on Simmons is naturally going to be lower after his performance in the playoffs – but presumably other teams will be interested as well – him being available won’t just mean he’s purely a Timberwolves target. Other teams that could be interested could include the Sacramento Kings, Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Indiana Pacers.
The Minnesota Timberwolves acquiring Ben Simmons does not mean that he will be free. To get something of value, they are going to have to give something of value. That said, if you had asked me whether Simmons’s price would be this low mid-way through this season, I would have called you crazy.
Essentially, the Timberwolves are giving up a promising young role player in Jaden McDaniels (as well as the late-first round pick) to upgrade from D’Angelo Russell to Simmons. And it’s probably worth it.
Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 trades to acquire Ben Simmons
Early in this year, before his injury, D’Angelo Russell did not look promising. He was failing to effect winning. Whether that was because of an injury that later caused him to miss several months of the season remains unknown, but Simmons is more consistent as a defender and playmaker, while the emergence of Anthony Edwards has made Russell’s scoring from the point guard spot more replaceable – especially with the Timberwolves keeping wing player Malik Beasley in this deal.
That’s not to say that Russell is a bad player – at his best he can clearly be the 2nd-best player on the Timberwolves, only behind Karl-Anthony Towns. He just has not been at his best since his final season in Brooklyn.
You can hate this trade all you want – McDaniels is beloved in the eyes of Timberwolves fans – but it would be a savvy trade without giving up many assets for a 24-year old All-Star caliber player. Simmons could be used as a point guard, combo-forward, or even center when Towns is off the floor – he makes sense in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Timberwolves could get even more creative with their package for Simmons. Here, they would involve a third team – the Oklahoma City Thunder. They package Jarrett Culver and a future second-round pick so that OKC can send a first-round pick to Philadelphia, aiding the Ben Simmons deal.
Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 trades to acquire Ben Simmons
Here, the 76ers get three role players and a future pick from the Phoenix Suns – which isn’t a bad package considering where Simmons’s value is right now. But considering he was involved in talks for James Harden just a few months ago – it is quite the fall.
Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Gersson Rosas would be buying low in this scenario – like, really low. I understand that McDaniels is a promising asset – but it’s important to remember that he averaged less than seven points per game last season for one of the worst teams in the league. As I’ve stated, you have to give up something of value to gain something of value, and getting a starting lineup of D’Angelo Russell-Anthony Edwards-Josh Okogie-Ben Simmons-Karl-Anthony Towns would absolutely be worth it – especially if Rosas is able to improve upon the depth outside of that core.
Losing the floor spacing that Malik Beasley brings would be a tough loss – but again, getting the type of defender and playmaker that Simmons in comparison to what it costs would be an absolute steal.
*Timberwolves pick protected 1-14 (Lottery)
With this trade, things get a little bit more creative. Instead of D’Angelo Russell going to Philadelphia, he’s sent to New Orleans, who signs Lonzo Ball to a 4-year extension before trading him to the 76ers.
One major note here: Lonzo Ball would have to agree to be sent to Philadelphia in this scenario since he is becoming a restricted free agent.
The 76ers would be getting two great young complementary pieces in addition to two first-round draft picks. If they want to find surrounding talent for Joel Embiid, that’s a good way to go about things – especially if they want to package more assets for another star in the future.
The Timberwolves, in this scenario, would be giving up the same assets as stated in the first trade offer, just divering Russell to the Pelicans, who desperately need more scoring from their backcourt.
Lonzo Ball is a great player, but his ability (and confidence) to score at the rim has been inconsistent at best (although slightly improved from this past season). His youth and 3-and-D skill set make him more appealing than Russell for a team like Philadelphia, who needs to do their best at surrounding their MVP-level talent.
Again, the Timberwolves would have a core of Simmons, Edwards, and Towns, which very well could be one of the best young cores in the Western Conference.