Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 potential Ben Simmons trades for the Wolves

The three-team trade that sends Ben Simmons to the Timberwolves

If Sixers boss Daryl Morey holds his ground for the foreseeable future, it may take a multi-team deal to get something done.

It’s well-known that Morey is constantly hunting for star-level talent. A year ago, an argument could easily be made that Devin Booker and Bradley Beal could both be had this offseason if their respective teams kept underperforming.

Things clearly changed in a big way in Phoenix last season. Over the summer, the Washington Wizards completely revamped their approach as well, and Beal does not appear to be going anywhere any time soon.

Theoretically, a name such as Myles Turner or Domantas Sabonis could be available from Indiana, but neither of them are quite on the same level as a Simmons, Beal, or Booker.

That leaves Damian Lillard as the lone true superstar who has been talked about in legitimate trade rumors this summer, all stemming from the postseason fall-out in Portland that included the dismissal of longtime head coach Terry Stotts and a bit of a circus surrounding the head-coaching search that ultimately led to the hiring of Chauncey Billups.

Lillard has since made it known that he’s committed to Portland, but the Blazers front office could change their mind at any time — which is exactly what Morey is banking on.

Could the Wolves horn their way on a deal like the below?

This would appear to be a win-win for Minnesota and Philadelphia. If Portland tires of the Lillard saga or if Dame makes a trade request, this deal allows the Trail Blazers to partially rebuild on the fly.

Much of this deal hinges on belief in the upside of McDaniels, but the argument that he could be a star-caliber player isn’t all that hard to make, given the fact that he has already shown glimpses as a true two-way player before he even turns 21 years old.

Maxey shares an agent with Simmons, of course, and is known to also be on the outs in Philly. Another incarnation of this deal could find Maxey in Minnesota and another piece headed Portland’s way, but the Blazers will surely make a case to land both second-year, high-upside players included in this potential deal.

The thought here is that one of Portland’s incoming first-rounders would come from the Wolves and one from the 76ers. Of course, Minnesota’s picks are suddenly much less valuable with a roster that has Towns, Simmons, Edwards, and either Beasley or Russell. But Portland would at least be adding a pair of selections on top of acquiring McDaniels and Maxey.

It still seems far more likely than not that Morey and the Sixers will pull the trigger on a deal before too much of the season passes, but who knows. Philly could keep playing the waiting game while trying to extract as much value as possible out of the market.

No matter what happens, expect the Timberwolves to be involved in discussions until the bitter end.