Minnesota Timberwolves Rumors: Latest on interest in Ben Simmons

In a long line of Minnesota Timberwolves rumors, their interest in Philadelphia 76ers superstar Ben Simmons has remained high for months. It certainly does not appear as though that sentiment will change anytime soon.

In the wake of Joel Embiid’s contract extension, the Sixers are still weighing potential trade offers, and ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Wolves have remained “persistent” in their pursuit.

Minnesota Timberwolves Rumors: Latest on interest in Ben Simmons

Ben Simmons is a three-time All-Star and two-time member of the All-Defensive team, but if one only paid attention to social media from the start of 2021 playoffs until now, then you’d be forgiven for thinking that he was an overpaid role player — or worse.

On the other hand, Philadelphia 76ers boss Daryl Morey has reportedly had an exorbitantly high asking price as he’s solicited offers. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Morey requested as many as seven combined first-round draft picks and pick swaps, plus Andrew Wiggins and James Wiseman, in exchange for Simmons.

The Wolves, of course, don’t have anywhere near the requisite assets to meet such an asking price, nor should they. (No, Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards aren’t going anywhere, so we’ll quickly move past that as a possibility.)

But that hasn’t stopped them from trying. As Adrian Wojnarowski noted on ESPN’s The Jump on Tuesday morning, the Wolves have been persistent. Of course, he also notes that they’ll need to include a third, and possibly even a fourth, team in order to make a Simmons deal a reality.

If the Wolves are able to rope in a couple of other teams to take part in a trade and they remain bullish on not including D’Angelo Russell in any outgoing package, then we can expect a couple of things.

First, Malik Beasley would absolutely need to be included in any deal. Secondly, Jaden McDaniels would have to be on the table. Add in a few first-rounders, and the Wolves might be able to muster up enough to get a trade completed.

Now, it’s also important to note that neither Patrick Beverley nor Taurean Prince is able to be aggregated with other contracts in any outgoing trade for 60 days. While Philadelphia does not want to start the season with Simmons on the roster, they may need to do so in order to find a suitor. The Wolves, perhaps not so coincidentally, wouldn’t be able to include either player in a deal until after the season starts.

A combination of Beasley and Beverley, plus two or three first-round picks, should be enough to at least engage a Philly front office that will surely be desperate to move on from Simmons if the current animosity between the player and franchise remains. Perhaps the Wolves must include McDaniels, perhaps not. In that case, they should get another player back from the Sixers, or at least give up one less draft pick.

Something like Beverley, Beasley, McDaniels, and a pair of first-rounders in exchange for Simmons and Matisse Thybulle could work. The Wolves would be acquiring the two worst shooters in the deal, however, so it’s not quite perfect, but again, it’s a conversation that Morey and Rosas will undoubtedly have.

Keep an eye on this. It’s a rumor that won’t go to bed until Simmons is eventually traded.