Your Best and Final Realistic Wolves Offer For Ben Simmons

[Wolvesfan21]

I agree with Lip on his proposal. I would feel a little sick about the picks, but then realize we still have Ant, KAT and McDaniels. Then Simmons as well who is only 25. DLO and Bease are weaker on defense, we sub them out for Beverley and Ant in the backcourt. All of a sudden our starting lineup has three great to elite defenders. Then hope Ant and KAT can elevate their defense as well.

[Coolbreeze44]

You would give up those 3 players AND 4 first round picks? You eat a lot of paint chips as a kid?

That's the absolute most that I would give up, and like I've said the entire summer, it won't be anything close to that much. That's a pretty standard package for an All-NBA player who's 25-years old under contract for four more years...

But then again you think Jaden McDaniels is a seven-foot tall Scottie Pippen. No wonder you're baffled by my post. Didn't you also say you'd give up Anthony Edwards? Yuck.

I do? That's news to me. What the hell is the matter with you?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Nobody here should be surprised by my maximum offer. I've said for a long time now that I would give up what was necessary to form a foursome that included Karl-Anthony Towns, D'Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, and Ben Simmons. I think that foursome makes the Wolves a contender even in a loaded Western Conference with regular season win totals in the 50's. That's "totals" because the core would be established for multiple seasons. We'd be sacrificing depth initially, but the pillars would be in place, in my opinion. And they all fit with each other schematically from my view.

If you disagree with that, then I would certainly expect you to have different feelings about what assets you'd be willing to part with. This thread is about what your best and final offer would be. That was mine.

[Lipoli390]

I gotta admit I am stunned that there are people here that would give up Edwards in a trade for Simmons, that being said here are my final offers:

DLO and 2 protected 1sts

Beasley, Prince, McDaniels, 2 unprotected 1sts

Beasley, Prince, Naz (whatever filler it takes without McDaniels to match salary) and 4 unprotected 1st round picks

Bloop - FNG is the only one on this board I'm aware of who would give up Edwards. All I can say is that FNG is in a very, very lonely place right now. :).

[Lipoli390]

Nobody here should be surprised by my maximum offer. I've said for a long time now that I would give up what was necessary to form a foursome that included Karl-Anthony Towns, D'Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, and Ben Simmons. I think that foursome makes the Wolves a contender even in a loaded Western Conference with regular season win totals in the 50's. That's "totals" because the core would be established for multiple seasons. We'd be sacrificing depth initially, but the pillars would be in place, in my opinion. And they all fit with each other schematically from my view.

If you disagree with that, then I would certainly expect you to have different feelings about what assets you'd be willing to part with. This thread is about what your best and final offer would be. That was mine.

I wasn't surprised at all, Cam. :). I see where you're coming from. I don't think the Sixers would take it because I don't see Morey having an interest in such a draft-centric package given the win-now scenario they're in. So I don't believe it's realistic. However, it's a high-value package generically and maybe it would be enough to win the day with the Sixers front office and ownership. From the Wolves perspective, I see the merit in your proposal. It's a lot of draft capital, but you add an elite defensive player to strong offensive arsenal of players. You mortgage the long-term future to maximize the team's talent over the next 3-4 years. On the other hand, giving up both Jaden and Beverley reduces the defensive benefit of acquiring Simmons. Our only good defensive players would be Simmons, Vanderbilt and Okogie -- and none of those three has a good perimeter shot. Two of them are terrible free-throw shooters. And we'd have three max contracts on the books. So I don't think I'd offer the package you suggested even if I thought it was realistic. Nonetheless, I can't say your offer is nuts; it just reflects a different perspective than mine.

[Lipoli390]

I will be very surprised if the Wolves go forward with a trade that send out DLO. I don't see it as realistic. I think the Wolves need to focus on teams that would be interested in their draft capital.

I think Cleveland would be but I don't think Philly would particularly want Rubio and/or Love.

I think Houston with OKC is an interesting option.

Rockets out: Eric Gordon, Danuel House
Rockets in: Josh Okogie, Jaylen Nowell, Tyrese Maxey

Sixers out: Ben Simmons, Tyrese Maxey
Sixers in: Eric Gordon, Malik Beasley, Derrick Favors, Danuel House, Wolves 2022 lightly protected first

Wolves out: Malik Beasley, Jake Layman, Josh Okogie, Jaylen Nowell, 2022 lightly protected first, 2024 top 18 protected first that becomes 2 2nds after 2 years.
Wolves in: Ben Simmons

Thunder out: Derrick Favors
Thunder in: Jake Layman, Wolves 2024 top 18 protected pick that becomes 2 2nds after 2 years.


Houston gets some young pieces to look at for Gordon who wants out.

Wolves get their guy and keep DLO and while not draining a ton of draft capital.

Sixers get guys that help them right now, tons of shooting, and a pick to help them in a future trade.

Thunder get more draft capital for a guy not in their future plans.

I agree that Rosas will be reluctant to give up DLO, but I think he will relent in the end if that's what it takes to get Simmons.

I just don't see a 3rd-team scenario that makes sense. A three-team deal only makes sense if there's a rebuilding team that would love a lot of additional future first-round picks from Minnesota and that also has a star lead guard or at least a lead guard the Sixers would markedly prefer over DLO. The true rebuilding teams are Houston, OKC and Orlando. None of those teams has any lead guards the Sixers would want or who would be better than a DLO and they don't have a lead-guard/shooter combo platter better than the DLO/Beasley combo. If there's another team out there that has a high-quality lead guard the Sixers might be interested in, that team would likely trade their lead guard in a package for Simmons, not for a couple Minnesota picks to facilitate Simmons going to the Wolves.

If we're going to get Simmons by trading a slew of future draft picks and possibly other young players like Jaden, it will be a direct two-team deal between the Wolves and Sixers based on Cam's theory that Morey would view those picks and young players as his ticket to getting Lillard or Beal in February or next summer.

[Lipoli390]

Good stuff, Lip, and I would be ecstatic if Morey took that offer. I agree that it would instantly transform us into an elite defensive team, but I also think we would still be a powerhouse offensively. There has been a narrative thrown out here that trading Dlo and Beasley for Simmons leaves us with a lack of 3-point shooting, but I disagree. Simmons would have 3 above average 3-point shooters in the starting lineup with him (KAT, Beverley and Jaden) and one who has the potential to be an excellent 3-point shooter (Ant). Just imagine how many open looks these good shooters would have with an elite facilitator like Simmons finding them. It's a fair offer, but I don't think Morey takes it...too bad, because I believe that trade would instantly transform us into a top 4 team in the West.

I would lead with Lip's offer, but as I've said in the other thread, I would kick it up to Ant, Prince and Layman if Morey needed more than Dlo and Beasley (assuming he values Ant more than those 2 players...I know I do). I would not be inclined to give up any draft picks in addition to this offer, and might even ask for one back from Philly. But if Morey insisted on a pick or two to supplement the deal, I would pull the trigger.

What do I think will happen realistically? Morey won't ever complete a deal with the Wolves because we just don't have what he thinks Simmons is worth. Simmons will continue to say he wants to be traded, but eventually will report to camp and agree to play. The bad chemistry on the 76ers and the Philly fans relentlessly booing Ben will hamper their performance, and Morey will be forced to realize that Simmons' value is going down as we get into November...but he still won't accept any of the offers given him. Finally some contender will suffer an injury that makes them need Simmons more, and they will offer something that Morey begrudgingly finds satisfactory. I don't think it will be the Wolves.

Good questions, FNG. Of course, anything can happen and certain injuries could occur that substantially change the market for Simmons. But I'll filter out the highly speculative scenarios and offer my thoughts based on some rational extrapolation from what we know:

1. Simmons will follow through on his threat to sit out training camp and preseason games. Simmons has nothing to lose sitting out since he'll get half his year's pay before training camp and the fines won't be financially meaningful to Simmons. Furthermore, Simmons is clearly pissed at the team and the acrimony is personal based on negative public comments from the team's head coach and best players. The fans have also turned against him. Moreover, Simmons and his agent would lose credibility if Simmons did not follow through on his threat.

2. I think Simmons will then skip games once the regular season starts if he's not traded by then. It will be extremely hard for Simmons to suit up and play for the Sixers given what's transpired and the personal nature of the acrimony. Simmons knows that the Sixers' ownership can't risk losing an opportunity to compete for a championship this season while Simmons sits. He has a lot of leverage and, given his agent's track record, I expect him to use that leverage.

3. Given the hard-ball I expect Simmons and his agent to play, I think he gets traded before the season or within the first couple weeks of the season at the latest.

4. I don't see any of the two or three star lead guards - Lillard, Beal or Fox - becoming available in any straight-up deal for Simmons. Instead, I think Morey will have two choices. Take the deal with the next best lead guard or up his ante with additional players and picks to pry away one of the three lead he apparently covets. I think Morey will ultimately have package offers that include VanVleet, Haliburton, Sexton and our own D'Angelo Russell. I also think Portland will offer a package that includes both McCollum and Covington. I think Morey will take one of those packages.

[Monster]

I gotta admit I am stunned that there are people here that would give up Edwards in a trade for Simmons, that being said here are my final offers:

DLO and 2 protected 1sts

Beasley, Prince, McDaniels, 2 unprotected 1sts

Beasley, Prince, Naz (whatever filler it takes without McDaniels to match salary) and 4 unprotected 1st round picks

Bloop - FNG is the only one on this board I'm aware of who would give up Edwards. All I can say is that FNG is in a very, very lonely place right now. :).

Morey just needs to find a GM that looks at Ben Simmons the way that FNG does. :)

[FNG]

I gotta admit I am stunned that there are people here that would give up Edwards in a trade for Simmons, that being said here are my final offers:

DLO and 2 protected 1sts

Beasley, Prince, McDaniels, 2 unprotected 1sts

Beasley, Prince, Naz (whatever filler it takes without McDaniels to match salary) and 4 unprotected 1st round picks

Bloop - FNG is the only one on this board I'm aware of who would give up Edwards. All I can say is that FNG is in a very, very lonely place right now. :).

Morey just needs to find a GM that looks at Ben Simmons the way that FNG does. :)

No chance, monster. GM's are generally quite smart, and what smart GM is going to appreciate a guy who only averages 16/8/8 and is the best defensive player in the league? He'd have to be crazy to value that guy more than Anthony Edwards ;-) !

(Ok, I know that all fan bases overvalue their own players, but I'm becoming convinced that this board is taking overvaluation to previously unprecedented heights. I predict that soon we'll be saying we won't give up McDaniels straight up for Simmons!)

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Why stop at Anthony Edwards? Maybe Philadelphia could use Karl-Anthony Towns and Justin Jefferson too. Can Byron Buxton make threes? Might as well send them everything Minnesota can offer. Fuck it.