Wolves trade for Pat Beverly

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Patrick Beverley (@patbev21):

So happy about the trade. New start in Minnesota. Some young thirsty guys wanting to Win. #GloryToGod

@KevinGarnett5KG imma put on for you Big Bro

Extremely excited Let's Go

[Tactical unit]

As obsessed with Simmons as Rosas appears to be, I suspect he had a possible Simmons trade as a secondary reason for acquiring Beverley. I just wish Rosas would forget about Simmons. I'm not keen on ball-dominant player who can't shoot at all from anywhere, including the free throw line. His apparent lack of mental and physical toughness make him even less attractive. Let some other team have him. I know others disagree, and I get that. In my view, Rosas should keep building around KAT and Ant with McDaniels, DLO and Beasley around them. Re-sign Vanderbilt and sign Millsap to join Beverley as another defensive, gritty smart vet. Then let's see where we're at next offseason when we'll have more financial flexibility, our own 1st round pick and three 2nd-round picks.

Rosas was part of the Houston group that Found Beverly int he first place so I doubt this was a 3 D checkers move just to get Simmons but as others including myself have said it doesn't hurt. Morey knows Beverly well too so I'd guess he would like him as well.

IMHO I would still be happy to acquire Simmons depending on what the Price would be. If it's Beverly Beasley (probably routed to another team) Layman and some first round picks I guess it would depend on the first round picks on whether or not I would consider it. I think Simmons would immediately make the Wolves a secure playoff team pending injury disasters and In my scenario Simmons would be the 4th option so him not shooting...that's doable. Adding one of the best most versatile defenders in the NBA that just turned 25...that's a massive move. What would you give to get a 25 year old Gobert? That's possibly the type of defensive impact player the Wolves are getting back. Do I think it will happen? No but turning Culver and Juancho into a player I think we all can agree the Sixers would want and actually have need for in a trade involving Simmons? Not a bad thing to do...and it's also possible the Wolves aren't the team that acquires Simmons maybe they get in on some other aspect of the deal.

I think a Simmons trade looks more like Beverly & Beasley plus at least one first round pick but he's a very interesting player. In a defender pick and roll type of role at PF I could see him being an asset. Imagine if he ever learned to shoot, he'd be crazy good. However you have to look at the possibility that he's always going to be a massive bust offensively and he might be the problem that he is / was for PHIL.

I lean towards Finch being able to run offense and maximize his skills to make it work. However I'm not willing to pay more than Beverly, Beasley, and one first round pick for a guy that wants out of town. If they can find better we have a core to build around without Simmons.

I've made this point before, TU, but I think the stats show that Simmons is far from a "massive bust offensively" and actually is a far above average offensive player. I think his offense is criticized because his defense is so elite, he is a horrible free throw and 3-point shooter, and because the dunk he chose not to take in the playoffs is on all of our minds. But if you look at his offensive stats, you find that he is actually a very productive offensive player:

1) His Ortg on Basketball Reference last year of 114 was better than any Wolves starter other than Towns' 117.

2) We all know he doesn't make free throws at an acceptable rate or try 3's. But he plays to his own strengths offensively, and still averaged 14.2 PPG last season with a TS% of 58.4%. To put that into perspective, only Towns, Vando and Reid had a better TS% last season. So Simmons scored more efficiently than Ant, Jaden, Beasley, DLO, Nowell and Rubio.

3) Most NBA fans would say Simmons was a disaster offensively in the playoffs this season, but the stats say otherwise. The Sixers were an extraordinary 21.3 points per 100 possessions better when Ben was on the court than when he was off. You just don't see numbers like that very often.

4) The reason the Sixers are so much better offensively with Ben on the court is because of his efficient scoring and his elite distributing. How many near 7 footers have averaged 7.7 assists per game for their careers?

Simmons would instantly make us much better at both ends of the court. But let's not kid ourselves...as focused as Rosas is on Ben, we're not going to be willing to give up what they want. Philly wants a Lilliard-type deal, and Beasley, Beverley and a pick isn't going to get their attention. I've read a lot of articles in the past couple days about what the Wolves would have to give up, and the deals always include KAT or Ant. Ain't gonna happen.

Change massive bust to what ever words you like. Ben's offense was a massive reason why they lost on the biggest stage. Like I said before, I lean towards Finch being able to run offense and maximize his skills to make it work. I also think he's less of an offensive issue next to KAT, ANT, DLO and others on the Wolves. He and Joel kinda occupied the same space, a flawed pairing of very skilled players.

[Wolvesfan21]

If Simmons fits anywhere it's next to the best shooting 3P big in the league. He's really a point forward anyways. Think of Simmons like Vanderbilt but with an elite handle, even better defense, elite passer and elite finisher around the rim. You want a 4? Get Simmons.

Some DLO + Bease and pick/s for Simmons instantly makes this team a playoff team. Potential contender in a couple seasons if our second year guys make nice progress.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

If Simmons fits anywhere it's next to the best shooting 3P big in the league. He's really a point forward anyways. Think of Simmons like Vanderbilt but with an elite handle, even better defense, elite passer and elite finisher around the rim. You want a 4? Get Simmons.

Some DLO + Bease and pick/s for Simmons instantly makes this team a playoff team. Potential contender in a couple seasons if our second year guys make nice progress.

You do not trade for Ben Simmons while selling off your outside shooting. I cannot stress that enough. Simmons makes sense for the Wolves because of the shooting -- and additional playmaking -- that would surround him. If that's gone, the issues that plagued him in Philadelphia will also restrict him in Minnesota. I really like Simmons, and I think he's still a significant star player in the league despite the slander, but he needs a certain group of players around him. I don't believe the Wolves would have that if they traded some combination of D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jaden McDaniels to acquire him. One step forward, and two steps back.

[BloopOracle]

Maybe someone already mentioned it earlier but I found it fascinating that Gerson Rosas was the one who discovered Pat Beverly while in Russia

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I haven't seen this mentioned yet, but it turned out to be a good decision from Gersson Rosas and the front office to withhold Juan Hernangomez from playing in the Olympics. Whether it was for legitimate medical reasons, or the Wolves just didn't want to risk further injury, it was the smart business decision. Had he more severely injured his shoulder he likely would have been impossible to trade the entire season. Here we are and he's no longer on the roster while they got a meaningful player in return for him. That's a win.

[Lipoli390]

I haven't seen this mentioned yet, but it turned out to be a good decision from Gersson Rosas and the front office to withhold Juan Hernangomez from playing in the Olympics. Whether it was for legitimate medical reasons, or the Wolves just didn't want to risk further injury, it was the smart business decision. Had he more severely injured his shoulder he likely would have been impossible to trade the entire season. Here we are and he's no longer on the roster while they got a meaningful player in return for him. That's a win.

I was thinking the same thing, Cam. At the time, I didn't like Gersson's decision. But in retrospect, it was the right business decision to make. I suspect that Gersson's was thinking about protecting Juancho's trade value more than his value as a player for the Wolves.

[Wolvesfan21]

If Simmons fits anywhere it's next to the best shooting 3P big in the league. He's really a point forward anyways. Think of Simmons like Vanderbilt but with an elite handle, even better defense, elite passer and elite finisher around the rim. You want a 4? Get Simmons.

Some DLO + Bease and pick/s for Simmons instantly makes this team a playoff team. Potential contender in a couple seasons if our second year guys make nice progress.

You do not trade for Ben Simmons while selling off your outside shooting. I cannot stress that enough. Simmons makes sense for the Wolves because of the shooting -- and additional playmaking -- that would surround him. If that's gone, the issues that plagued him in Philadelphia will also restrict him in Minnesota. I really like Simmons, and I think he's still a significant star player in the league despite the slander, but he needs a certain group of players around him. I don't believe the Wolves would have that if they traded some combination of D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jaden McDaniels to acquire him. One step forward, and two steps back.

You just acquire talent when you can and go from there. You then prioritize role players who can be 3 and D types, doesn't have to be elite, simply avg in both or above avg in one area and adequate in the other. You simply don't acquire players who cannot shoot respectably.

[Lipoli390]

If Simmons fits anywhere it's next to the best shooting 3P big in the league. He's really a point forward anyways. Think of Simmons like Vanderbilt but with an elite handle, even better defense, elite passer and elite finisher around the rim. You want a 4? Get Simmons.

Some DLO + Bease and pick/s for Simmons instantly makes this team a playoff team. Potential contender in a couple seasons if our second year guys make nice progress.

You do not trade for Ben Simmons while selling off your outside shooting. I cannot stress that enough. Simmons makes sense for the Wolves because of the shooting -- and additional playmaking -- that would surround him. If that's gone, the issues that plagued him in Philadelphia will also restrict him in Minnesota. I really like Simmons, and I think he's still a significant star player in the league despite the slander, but he needs a certain group of players around him. I don't believe the Wolves would have that if they traded some combination of D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jaden McDaniels to acquire him. One step forward, and two steps back.

You just acquire talent when you can and go from there. You then prioritize role players who can be 3 and D types, doesn't have to be elite, simply avg in both or above avg in one area and adequate in the other. You simply don't acquire players who cannot shoot respectably.

I agree, WolvesFan. However, Simmons is such a high-caliber defender and playmaker that I'd still have an interest in acquiring him if we didn't have to give up both Beasley and DLO or mortgage our future by giving up McDaniels and multiple unprotected or lightly protected first round picks. I like our foundation of KAT, DLO, Ant, McDaniels and Beasley. I like the addition of Beverley, which moves the needle in my view. Add Millsap and I like our chances of making the playoffs next season.

[FNG]

I'll repeat a question I posed earlier when considering whether we would offer DLO/Beasley for Simmons. Which starting 5 would you rather begin the season with?

KAT
Simmons
Jaden
Ant
Beverley

or

KAT
Vando
Jaden
Ant
DLO

It's a pretty easy answer for me. It's also clear to me that this discussion is irrelevant, because Philly would have no interest in this deal. There still holding out for a Lillard-like deal, and I can't see how the wolves get into that conversation...even with another team involved.