Until now, I've considered Sacramento, Toronto and even Indiana as more likely than Minnesota to land Simmons. The the more I read and reflect, the more inclined I am to believe that Minnesota is his most likely landing spot. Here are the factors that have me now leaning that way:
1. Recent reports from credible NBA reporters and analysis who now have Minnesota as the most likely landing spot and who have reported on where other potential suitors appear to be drawing the line on what they're willing to give up.
2. The likelihood that Rosas is more obsessed than any other NBA front office executive with getting Simmons this summer and his track record of ultimately giving a lot or accepting uncertainty to get the guy he zeros in on, e.g., (a) the trade up for Garland without assurance he would be available, (b) the DLO trade even though no one was beating down Golden State's door to get DLO at that point in the season, (c) the Juancho deal that resulted in a contract that appeared significantly higher than anything Juancho would have gotten elsewhere.
3. Gersson's delay in executing a number of otherwise likely and easily executed transactions: (a) delay in signing Bolmaro in spite of the intent and opportunity to do so; (b) delay in signing Vanderbilt even though he hasn't had any outside suitors and would appear to be easily signable for a relative bargain price; (c) delay in re-signing J-Mac even though reports have uniformly indicated the Wolves interest in keeping him; and (d) the decision not to aggressively pursue and sign any other free-agent bigs like Millsap, Hartenstein, Giles, etc. Those delays, coupled with the Beverley deal, which freed up a roster spot, all point to Gersson's effort to maintain as much roster and financial flexibility as possible to accommodate any number of potential deals for Simmons.
I could get excited about a Wolves deal for Simmons. My fear is that Gersson will give up too much to get him. I'd be willing to give up DLO, Layman and two future 2nd-round picks for Simmons. In the alternative, I'd be willing to give up Beasley, Prince or Beverley, two future lightly or unprotected 1sts and two future 2nd-round picks. But that's it. I wouldn't consider giving up KAT, Edwards or McDaniels and I wouldn't give up more than two future 1st-round picks. If Morey wants more, Rosas will probably give him more as would some on this message board and I get that. But I'm very comfortable passing on Simmons if it would take more than one of the packages I suggested.
Lip I don't really read much into McLaughlin and Vanderbilt not being signed because they are RFA and so often that plays out for a while for guys like them. You might be onto something there though. I had assumed Bolmaro had been signed since it was reported as basically going to happen...but I didn't find anything that said he was. If they are waiting to sign him that could mean something so that's a good point.
I think Rosas may have some sort of value asset we haven's considered that could make this deal work. Maybe it's Bolmaro. Maybe some team really values Naz and that breaks loose a player or asset that the Sixers value. What if there is a mystery team out there that has told Rosas if you get Simmons we are willing to give some sort of asset to make a sign and trade happen to acquire Vanderbilt which could go to the Sixers. I'm not getting my hopes up too high but Rosas and his group does seem to be able to come up with some interesting ways of finding value I didn't expect. I'm also not suggesting they are super amazing at it but there does seem like a real opportunity to get a very good player even with his flaws like Simmons for a price that like Can says doesn't match what he does on the court.
Monster - You should read more into them not being signed, especially Vanderbilt. There's no deal that will take shape in a matter of days or weeks that's not attainable now. His situation is static. Rosas is waiting on all these matters, including Bolmaro, to maximize his flexibility for a bigger deal - whether it's Simmons or someone else.
If true that Minnesota and Toronto are now the leading candidates to get Simmons, how would you compare the chances of these two teams based on the packages they could and probably would be willing to offer?
More information suggesting that the Wolves have a decent chance of ending up with Simmons.
All things I've noted here at one point or another. Good summary. I can't stress the last point enough. D'Angelo Russell and Ben Simmons have games that are built to play with each either. Think Steph Curry and Draymond Green albeit not anything close to that level. But the style, the strengths and weaknesses, the player molds, etc. Russell and Simmons will be a very dangerous duo. Oh, yeah, and then there's arguably the most skilled big in the history of the game in Karl-Anthony Towns and a future All-Star in Anthony Edwards. That foursome would be tough.
More information suggesting that the Wolves have a decent chance of ending up with Simmons.
All things I've noted here at one point or another. Good summary. I can't stress the last point enough. D'Angelo Russell and Ben Simmons have games that are built to play with each either. Think Steph Curry and Draymond Green albeit not anything close to that level. But the style, the strengths and weaknesses, the player molds, etc. Russell and Simmons will be a very dangerous duo. Oh, yeah, and then there's arguably the most skilled big in the history of the game in Karl-Anthony Towns and a future All-Star in Anthony Edwards. That foursome would be tough.
Cam - You've persuaded me on the DLO/Simmons combo, which I was initially skeptical about. But would you trade DLO if necessary to get Simmons? If so, who or what else (if anything) would you be willing to give up along with DLO.
More information suggesting that the Wolves have a decent chance of ending up with Simmons.
All things I've noted here at one point or another. Good summary. I can't stress the last point enough. D'Angelo Russell and Ben Simmons have games that are built to play with each either. Think Steph Curry and Draymond Green albeit not anything close to that level. But the style, the strengths and weaknesses, the player molds, etc. Russell and Simmons will be a very dangerous duo. Oh, yeah, and then there's arguably the most skilled big in the history of the game in Karl-Anthony Towns and a future All-Star in Anthony Edwards. That foursome would be tough.
Cam - You've persuaded me on the DLO/Simmons combo, which I was initially skeptical about. But would you trade DLO if necessary to get Simmons? If so, who or what else (if anything) would you be willing to give up along with DLO.
Firstly, I obviously think that Ben Simmons is obtainable without including D'Angelo Russell and the collection of talent afterwards, including Russell, is what really excites me. Those pieces work really well together in theory. But to answer your question, I wouldn't include Russell. I'm sure I'll wake up my haters with that take (ha), but I feel good about this team with the current talent that's already on it. I figured this team had a chance to win 41-ish games with no further moves after acquiring Patrick Beverley. If Minnesota doesn't land Simmons, then I'll be bummed because that's a great opportunity, but I'll revert back to my prior excitement about finally getting to see what this core looks like.
Until now, I've considered Sacramento, Toronto and even Indiana as more likely than Minnesota to land Simmons. The the more I read and reflect, the more inclined I am to believe that Minnesota is his most likely landing spot. Here are the factors that have me now leaning that way:
1. Recent reports from credible NBA reporters and analysis who now have Minnesota as the most likely landing spot and who have reported on where other potential suitors appear to be drawing the line on what they're willing to give up.
2. The likelihood that Rosas is more obsessed than any other NBA front office executive with getting Simmons this summer and his track record of ultimately giving a lot or accepting uncertainty to get the guy he zeros in on, e.g., (a) the trade up for Garland without assurance he would be available, (b) the DLO trade even though no one was beating down Golden State's door to get DLO at that point in the season, (c) the Juancho deal that resulted in a contract that appeared significantly higher than anything Juancho would have gotten elsewhere.
3. Gersson's delay in executing a number of otherwise likely and easily executed transactions: (a) delay in signing Bolmaro in spite of the intent and opportunity to do so; (b) delay in signing Vanderbilt even though he hasn't had any outside suitors and would appear to be easily signable for a relative bargain price; (c) delay in re-signing J-Mac even though reports have uniformly indicated the Wolves interest in keeping him; and (d) the decision not to aggressively pursue and sign any other free-agent bigs like Millsap, Hartenstein, Giles, etc. Those delays, coupled with the Beverley deal, which freed up a roster spot, all point to Gersson's effort to maintain as much roster and financial flexibility as possible to accommodate any number of potential deals for Simmons.
I could get excited about a Wolves deal for Simmons. My fear is that Gersson will give up too much to get him. I'd be willing to give up DLO, Layman and two future 2nd-round picks for Simmons. In the alternative, I'd be willing to give up Beasley, Prince or Beverley, two future lightly or unprotected 1sts and two future 2nd-round picks. But that's it. I wouldn't consider giving up KAT, Edwards or McDaniels and I wouldn't give up more than two future 1st-round picks. If Morey wants more, Rosas will probably give him more as would some on this message board and I get that. But I'm very comfortable passing on Simmons if it would take more than one of the packages I suggested.
Lip I don't really read much into McLaughlin and Vanderbilt not being signed because they are RFA and so often that plays out for a while for guys like them. You might be onto something there though. I had assumed Bolmaro had been signed since it was reported as basically going to happen...but I didn't find anything that said he was. If they are waiting to sign him that could mean something so that's a good point.
I think Rosas may have some sort of value asset we haven's considered that could make this deal work. Maybe it's Bolmaro. Maybe some team really values Naz and that breaks loose a player or asset that the Sixers value. What if there is a mystery team out there that has told Rosas if you get Simmons we are willing to give some sort of asset to make a sign and trade happen to acquire Vanderbilt which could go to the Sixers. I'm not getting my hopes up too high but Rosas and his group does seem to be able to come up with some interesting ways of finding value I didn't expect. I'm also not suggesting they are super amazing at it but there does seem like a real opportunity to get a very good player even with his flaws like Simmons for a price that like Can says doesn't match what he does on the court.
Monster - You should read more into them not being signed, especially Vanderbilt. There's no deal that will take shape in a matter of days or weeks that's not attainable now. His situation is static. Rosas is waiting on all these matters, including Bolmaro, to maximize his flexibility for a bigger deal - whether it's Simmons or someone else.
Really? Why was it that McLaughlin didn't sign until after Training camp started last year? He wanted a better deal and the Wolves didn't want to give it to him? Every year theere are RFA that wait as long as they can to hopefully get a better deal. The idea that there is no other option that could shake loose (especially since there are what like 100s of posts about Simmons being traded on this forum which could involve various teams...or someone getting injured or something else. My guess is Rosas isn't solely waiting to sign these guys especially Vanderbilt because of some Simmons trade. Maybe but again I wouldn't read that much into it.
Simmons ain't coming here without dlo going... plain and simple. The wolves just say they don't want to include DLo to save face with him if the deal doesn't work out. Any gm or poster on this forum who misses on Simmons because they don't want to include Dlo is INSANE. Rosas has shown me that's he's actually a decent gm and not insane. Like I've said before, DLo is actually a really good fit in phili. My guess is DLo, Beasley, Vanderbilt and 2 1sts for Simmons and whatever bad contracts they want to escape from to make the money work.
D-Loser wrote:Simmons ain't coming here without dlo going... plain and simple. The wolves just say they don't want to include DLo to save face with him if the deal doesn't work out. Any gm or poster on this forum who misses on Simmons because they don't want to include Dlo is INSANE. Rosas has shown me that's he's actually a decent gm and not insane. Like I've said before, DLo is actually a really good fit in phili. My guess is DLo, Beasley, Vanderbilt and 2 1sts for Simmons and whatever bad contracts they want to escape from to make the money work.
You know what team would be an even better fit for D'Angelo Russell? The Wolves, especially after they've acquired Ben Simmons. That's why he isn't being included in these trade talks. I agree with you that Gersson Rosas is a decent executive and has shown his savvy multiple times. I truly expect that he will trade for Simmons without losing Russell in the process. The only question to me is whether or not he also retains Jaden McDaniels or Malik Beasley in the process. I fully expect Minnesota's offer to be highly-reliant on draft picks and swaps for reasons I've explained ad nauseam.
Additionally, Jarred Vanderbilt will not be included in any deal. He will be back on the Wolves next year. The only question with him is if he'll be brought back on a multi-year deal or not.
D-Loser wrote:My guess is DLo, Beasley, Vanderbilt and 2 1sts for Simmons and whatever bad contracts they want to escape from to make the money work.
Yikes... on the one hand, the only way for deals for players like Simmons is for each side to give up significant value. On the other, this strikes me as a terrible deal for the wolves, lol
