Minnesota Timberwolves: Rumor Mill

[kekgeek]

The last 2 stars to publicly force their way out of their team.

Jimmy Butler: got Covington, Saric, Bayless and a 2nd (so the 3rd and 4th option)

Harden: Oladipo and multiple 1sts

It is crazy how little teams have gotten back when they publicly blow up the team. If the rumors are true he wants to play in California or Minnesota. I think Simmons is a Timberwolf or a king to start the season.

Also don't underestimate the power of klutch here. Combined two clutch clients in Simmons and Ant can't be terrible for business. To go along with that it was reported today klutch wants Maxey out of Philly because of how philly handled Simmons

[kekgeek]

I listened to Johnny Athletic on Barriero today and it was pretty much the same thing as always. Besides he said Simmons says he isn't reporting, the wolves still probably need a 3rd team, the one thing I did think was interesting he said was for the 1st time he believes Rosas would pull the trigger on trading Dlo for Simmons. That is the 1st time he John K has believed that but the Wolves still trying to make it happen without Dlo

Jon K responded to a fan's question on Twitter about the Wolves offering D'Angelo Russell in a trade for Ben Simmons. This is his response:

"They definitely don't want to. Will they if they HAVE to? That I don't know."

Take that however you'd like, I guess. It still leans towards Russell being off the table to me.

I generally agree with you. Just it was the 1st time he had leaned at all to possibly having Dlo available and I think that is at least note worthy.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Derek Bodner, senior writer for The Athletic covering the Philadelphia 76ers:

Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey has always been steadfast in his pursuit of superstars, with his team-building philosophy being the epitome of "star hunting" long before the phrase was ever translated to Bostralian. From the very start of Morey's tenure in Philadelphia the organization was almost singularly focused on monitoring the James Harden situation in Houston, according to sources both inside and out of the organization. Since the Sixers' season ended the team has similarly kept a watchful eye on the status of Lillard in Portland. From the Sixers' perspective, it would be fair to say the goal is less to trade Ben Simmons and more to acquire Damian Lillard.

Back on the eve of draft night, which would have been their first realistic chance at pulling off a blockbuster trade, I wrote that every move the Sixers made had to answer one very important question: how does it position them to be ready if, and perhaps when, Damian Lillard does request a trade out of Portland?

...

In this hypothetical, do the Sixers take the trade which would best help them compete for a title in 2021-22 (a haul which may very well not appeal to the Blazers), or do they target a trade package flush with young players, value contracts and future draft picks, which they could then flip as part of Portland's eventual asking price, but would leave them as a worse team in 2021-22 if a Lillard trade doesn't materialize?

Link: https://theathletic.com/2758646/2021/08/08/for-the-sixers-all-eyes-turn-to-damian-lillard-now-that-the-draft-and-free-agency-are-in-the-rearview-mirror/

This is essentially what I've been saying here, but it's more meaningful, I think, coming from a writer like Derek Bodner who is connected and more informed on the behind-the-scenes intricacies of the Sixers organization. Philadelphia is going after Damian Lillard. If not now, then later. And I think that pursuit of Lillard will end up playing a significant part in the return they get back for Ben Simmons.

[Coolbreeze44]

Oddsmakers at Sportline now have the Wolves as the most likely landing place for Simmons. This is a brand new change. The Wolves are at +300, followed by the Kings +400, Blazers +700, Warriors +700.

[FNG]

Oddsmakers at Sportline now have the Wolves as the most likely landing place for Simmons. This is a brand new change. The Wolves are at +300, followed by the Kings +400, Blazers +700, Warriors +700.

Love it! Wish the Kings weren't so close.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Oddsmakers at Sportline now have the Wolves as the most likely landing place for Simmons. This is a brand new change. The Wolves are at +300, followed by the Kings +400, Blazers +700, Warriors +700.

I wonder if this is a reaction to the news that the Kings are "unlikely" to part with De'Aaron Fox, but more importantly Tyrese Haliburton. If Sacramento really has Haliburton off the table, then that significantly hinders their ability to acquire Ben Simmons, in my opinion.

Minnesota's reportedly been the most aggressive suitor for Simmons the entire summer so their odds being number one don't shock me at all.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Oddsmakers at Sportline now have the Wolves as the most likely landing place for Simmons. This is a brand new change. The Wolves are at +300, followed by the Kings +400, Blazers +700, Warriors +700.

I wonder if this is a reaction to the news that the Kings are "unlikely" to part with De'Aaron Fox, but more importantly Tyrese Haliburton. If Sacramento really has Haliburton off the table, then that significantly hinders their ability to acquire Ben Simmons, in my opinion.

Minnesota's reportedly been the most aggressive suitor for Simmons the entire summer so their odds being number one don't shock me at all.

The three top news nuggets on Real GM are...

1) Warriors Not Strongly Interested In Pairing Ben Simmons With Draymond Green.
2) Kings Unlikely To Include De'Aaron Fox Or Tyrese Haliburton In Offer For Ben Simmons
3) Joel Embiid Denies Report Of Rift With Ben Simmons, Hopes 76ers Don't Trade Him

I think all three teams are in full-fledged PR posturing mode right now.

1. Meh. Warriors aren't interested... unless Simmons comes really cheap!
2. Meh. Kings aren't interested... unless Simmons comes really cheap!
3. Meh. We're not even interested in trading him anyway. So na na a booboo!

It's a game being played out via media sources right now.

[Monster]

Oddsmakers at Sportline now have the Wolves as the most likely landing place for Simmons. This is a brand new change. The Wolves are at +300, followed by the Kings +400, Blazers +700, Warriors +700.

I wonder if this is a reaction to the news that the Kings are "unlikely" to part with De'Aaron Fox, but more importantly Tyrese Haliburton. If Sacramento really has Haliburton off the table, then that significantly hinders their ability to acquire Ben Simmons, in my opinion.

Minnesota's reportedly been the most aggressive suitor for Simmons the entire summer so their odds being number one don't shock me at all.

The three top news nuggets on Real GM are...

1) Warriors Not Strongly Interested In Pairing Ben Simmons With Draymond Green.
2) Kings Unlikely To Include De'Aaron Fox Or Tyrese Haliburton In Offer For Ben Simmons
3) Joel Embiid Denies Report Of Rift With Ben Simmons, Hopes 76ers Don't Trade Him

I think all three teams are in full-fledged PR posturing mode right now.

1. Meh. Warriors aren't interested... unless Simmons comes really cheap!
2. Meh. Kings aren't interested... unless Simmons comes really cheap!
3. Meh. We're not even interested in trading him anyway. So na na a booboo!

It's a game being played out via media sources right now.

I think you make an interesting point.

I think it's interesting that Embiid did decide to come out and say some things on Twitter today in support of Simmons. That's not "reporting" or "sources" it's the actual guy saying stuff on social media. Whether what he is saying is genuine or not is another thing.

[Lipoli390]

I listened to Johnny Athletic on Barriero today and it was pretty much the same thing as always. Besides he said Simmons says he isn't reporting, the wolves still probably need a 3rd team, the one thing I did think was interesting he said was for the 1st time he believes Rosas would pull the trigger on trading Dlo for Simmons. That is the 1st time he John K has believed that but the Wolves still trying to make it happen without Dlo

Jon K responded to a fan's question on Twitter about the Wolves offering D'Angelo Russell in a trade for Ben Simmons. This is his response:

"They definitely don't want to. Will they if they HAVE to? That I don't know."

Take that however you'd like, I guess. It still leans towards Russell being off the table to me.

I tend to agree with you on this, Cam.

It really depends on what shakes loose in the market. We really don't know how badly other teams would like to get Simmons. Therefore, we don't know what those other teams would ultimately be willing to give up to get him. The rumored offers you posted earlier in this thread were a first salvo. No one ever starts with their best offer in negotiations. As you've noted, the increasingly acrimonious and public rift between Simmons and the Philly diminishes Morey's leverage. But at some point, a team is going to offer more than they reportedly offered already. I just don't see Morey suddenly agreeing to accept Prince, Beverley and a bunch of lightly-protected picks after turning down Ricky, Culver and a bunch of lightly-protected picks. So I would think the Wolves would have to add at least Beasley and perhaps McDaniels as well to get the deal done and even that might not be enough - depending on what other teams offer. Similarly, I don't see Morey suddenly accepting Haliburton, Barnes and the a future pick after turning down those two players plus this year's #9 pick. But he might accept Haliburton, Hield and two future lightly-protected firsts - again, depending on what other teams offer. Apparently, Toronto's initial offer of VanVleet, Anunoby and a protected 2022 1st wasn't enough for Morey, but perhaps he'd accept that deal if the 2022 is changed to "lightly protected" and a 2024 lottery-protected 1st is included as well.

I guess my main point is that, in spite of the pressure on Morey to do a deal, teams that really want Simmons will likely increase their low-ball initial offers as always happens in negotiations. All it takes is one team to up the ante and a bidding war begins. I don't see Morey getting anything close to what he was initially expecting and in that sense he overplayed his hand. But I do see Sacramento, Minnesota and perhaps Toronto upping their initial offers. And I have no doubt that Morey will play those offers against one another to drive up the price as high as he can. Rosas might blink and offer? DLO, in which case the Kings might then offer Fox. Or the Kings might offer Hield instead of Barnes and two or three lightly-protected 1st round picks instead of the #9 pick they just offered. I don't think the Wolves can match or top that offer without offering DLO.

But no doubt this is getting interesting. And for the first time since the post-season Simmons drama started, I see a realistic possibility that the Wolves can end up with Simmons. However, I still think it will require a third team because I don't think a lot of picks with a couple role players will be enough for Morey.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

- Patrick Beverley, Taurean Prince, 2022 first-round pick, 2024 first-round pick, 2026 first-round pick, and a 2023 first-round swap

- Malik Beasley, Taurean Prince, 2022 first-round pick, 2024 first-round pick, and a 2023 first-round swap

- Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley, 2022 first-round pick, 2024 first-round pick, and a 2023 first-round swap

- Patrick Beverley, Taurean Prince, Jaden McDaniels, 2022 first-round pick, and 2024 first-round pick

- Malik Beasley, Taurean Prince, Jaden McDaniels, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 first-round swap

- Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley, Jaden McDaniels, 2022 first-round pick, 2024 first-round pick, and a 2023 first-round swap

Something along these lines is what it will take for Minnesota, I think. Ultimately, I think I'd pull the trigger on all of these deals for Ben Simmons, but I think there's a possibility that the offers never get to that level. How aggressive of a bidding war there will be remains to be seen. I think Sacramento has a limit as to what they will offer, and they're the biggest threat to land Simmons in my view. San Antonio is another one, but I think they're a couple moves away from being ready to acquire Simmons and contend.