Minnesota Sports Forum

Not much Simmons news lately. The Sixers lost last night and are not 2-2. Meanwhile, VanVleet had 26 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists tonight for the Raptors. Anunoby added 25 points. Assuming the report was true about the Raptors offering both players and a future 1st for Simmons, Morey sure looks like a buffoon. Even if they just offered VanVleet and a future 1st, Morey looks pretty bad. Another player reportedly offered early on for Simmons was Collin Sexton. He has 24 points and 7 rebounds so far tonight for Cleveland. I generally don't root for any particular team to lose except the Lakers. Last season it was both the Lakers and Nets. I'm adding the Sixers as my third team to root against this season.

lipoli390 wrote:Not much Simmons news lately. The Sixers lost last night and are not 2-2. Meanwhile, VanVleet had 26 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists tonight for the Raptors. Anunoby added 25 points. Assuming the report was true about the Raptors offering both players and a future 1st for Simmons, Morey sure looks like a buffoon. Even if they just offered VanVleet and a future 1st, Morey looks pretty bad. Another player reportedly offered early on for Simmons was Collin Sexton. He has 24 points and 7 rebounds so far tonight for Cleveland. I generally don't root for any particular team to lose except the Lakers. Last season it was both the Lakers and Nets. I'm adding the Sixers as my third team to root against this season.

I just don't think there is a trade out there really outside of the CJ for Simmons swap.

In terms of the wolves. McDaniels and Beasley have not raised their value through 4 games (McDaniels has played good D). At the moment just don't see a wolves trade

kekgeek1 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:Not much Simmons news lately. The Sixers lost last night and are not 2-2. Meanwhile, VanVleet had 26 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists tonight for the Raptors. Anunoby added 25 points. Assuming the report was true about the Raptors offering both players and a future 1st for Simmons, Morey sure looks like a buffoon. Even if they just offered VanVleet and a future 1st, Morey looks pretty bad. Another player reportedly offered early on for Simmons was Collin Sexton. He has 24 points and 7 rebounds so far tonight for Cleveland. I generally don't root for any particular team to lose except the Lakers. Last season it was both the Lakers and Nets. I'm adding the Sixers as my third team to root against this season.

I just don't think there is a trade out there really outside of the CJ for Simmons swap.

In terms of the wolves. McDaniels and Beasley have not raised their value through 4 games (McDaniels has played good D). At the moment just don't see a wolves trade

I agree.

Camden0916 wrote:Minnesota Timberwolves First 20 Games:

10/20: vs. Houston Rockets
10/23: vs. New Orleans Pelicans (Zion Williamson: Doubtful)
10/25: vs. New Orleans Pelicans (Zion Williamson: Doubtful)
10/27: at Milwaukee Bucks
10/30: vs. Denver Nuggets (Jamal Murray: Out)
11/01: vs. Orlando Magic (Jonathan Isaac, Markelle Fultz: Questionable)
11/03: vs. Los Angeles Clippers (Kawhi Leonard: Out)
11/05: vs. Los Angeles Clippers (Kawhi Leonard: Out)
11/08: at Memphis Grizzlies (Dillon Brooks: Doubtful)
11/10: at Golden State Warriors (Klay Thompson: Out)
11/12: at Los Angeles Lakers
11/13: at Los Angeles Clippers
11/15: vs. Phoenix Suns
11/17: vs. Sacramento Kings
11/18: vs. San Antonio Spurs
11/20: vs. Memphis Grizzlies
11/22: at New Orleans Pelicans
11/24: vs. Miami Heat
11/26: at Charlotte Hornets
11/27: at Philadelphia 76ers

What record through 20 games, if any, would make you think twice about making a trade for Ben Simmons or any other roster-altering piece?

This question didn't get too many responses at the time, but since we're actually through 20 games I feel like we should revisit it.

Minnesota's won six of their last seven games and seven of their last 10. We haven't seen this much winning over a stretch of games since the early 2000's. The Wolves sit at 10-10 on the season and are currently tied with the sixth-seed Blazers.

Would you make a big roster shakeup -- ie. trading several key players and draft picks for Ben Simmons -- or let the team continue on its course? I feel like if it isn't broken, then don't fix it. I like this team as it's currently constructed and would only be shopping for a big-bodied center that could provide toughness on the interior. I also wouldn't mind adding another veteran ball-handler at the trade deadline. Minor moves that could help the current team, but I'm not turning over the roster based on what I've seen thus far.

Trading for Simmons right now, for what it would take to get him, would most certainly cause a regression for this team. The guy isn't in game shape physically or mentally. The team has great chemistry right now and does not have expendable depth. It would be fair to reevaluate at the trade deadline but more realisticly next offseason.

I think the way Vanderbilt has seized hold of the starting PF role has been a big bright spot this season. He's certainly not Ben Simmons, but defensively he plays the same position that Ben would and it seems like we are basically getting a slightly less great version of Simmons at about 10% of the price. That's a pretty good deal! And I'd argue his offensive rebounding has led to more wide open 3's than our set offense generates, so he's helping on that end too.

Phenom's_Revenge wrote:Trading for Simmons right now, for what it would take to get him, would most certainly cause a regression for this team. The guy isn't in game shape physically or mentally. The team has great chemistry right now and does not have expendable depth. It would be fair to reevaluate at the trade deadline but more realisticly next offseason.

I don't disagree with this take (or Q's below it), but I also think this might be the ideal time to trade for Ben. Philly has to recognize that Simmons is never going to play for them and they are a .500 team without him, so the prudent move is to take any reasonable deal rather than waste a season (or more). Similarly, Gupta is likely smart enough to see .500 as his team's ceiling as currently constructed. Seems like a perfect situation for a deal.

A month ago there was almost unanimous, maybe unanimous, consent here that Morey would not take DLo straight up for Simmons. But what about now? DLo is having by far the best season of his career, ranking up there with Jokic and Giannis in raw +/-. and playing some decent tram defense. And even better, he just beat Philly on their home court and added 2 steals and 2 blocks to his 35 points. Morey watched this game, so he saw first hand DLo's new-found commitment to defense.

And what does this deal do for the Wolves. Well, to understand the impact one guy can have on a team's defense, check out Philly's Def Rtg this year compared to last. Last season they had the third best defense in the league...this year they've dropped to 23rd! I love what Vando is doing this year starting at PF, but a starting unit of KAT/Ben/Jaden/Ant/PatBev could very easily lead the league in defense, and would be one of the longest starting fives in the league. The reserve's defense would still be strong with Vando and perhaps Bolmaro coming off the bench, and Beasley and Naz would provide a lot of offense.

Q's point about Vando creating a lot of second chance threes with his offensive rebounding is well taken, but I think he would still be getting 20 MPG even if he were no longer starting (or maybe he still would be starting at PF with Ben essentially the SF). I also think Q is short-changing Ben a little in saying they guard the same position. True, they both can defend good PF's, but Simmons has shown he can defend all 5 positions as well as anyone in the league.

I love what DLo has been doing this season (absent good shooting), but this deal adds at least 10 wins to both teams. Is it risky? Yeah...Ben is at least saying that he has mental issues. But a team that I believe has a .500 ceiling needs to take chances. Come on, Gupta...DLo will never have more value than he does right now. Do you think Morey would take DLo for Simmons?

FNG, the problem is you really can't play Ben with Vando. Neither is willing or able to hit a shot outside of 8 feet and it's very difficult to run an offense these days with two guys that are total non-shooters. That mitigates how much he can add defensively since you essentially can't play two of your best defenders at once. So there is a diminishing return we get on defense from Ben and what do we give up offensively to get him? One of our few reliable outside shooters. I think our defense would get marginally better and our offense would potentially get worse.

Camden wrote:

Camden0916 wrote:Minnesota Timberwolves First 20 Games:

10/20: vs. Houston Rockets
10/23: vs. New Orleans Pelicans (Zion Williamson: Doubtful)
10/25: vs. New Orleans Pelicans (Zion Williamson: Doubtful)
10/27: at Milwaukee Bucks
10/30: vs. Denver Nuggets (Jamal Murray: Out)
11/01: vs. Orlando Magic (Jonathan Isaac, Markelle Fultz: Questionable)
11/03: vs. Los Angeles Clippers (Kawhi Leonard: Out)
11/05: vs. Los Angeles Clippers (Kawhi Leonard: Out)
11/08: at Memphis Grizzlies (Dillon Brooks: Doubtful)
11/10: at Golden State Warriors (Klay Thompson: Out)
11/12: at Los Angeles Lakers
11/13: at Los Angeles Clippers
11/15: vs. Phoenix Suns
11/17: vs. Sacramento Kings
11/18: vs. San Antonio Spurs
11/20: vs. Memphis Grizzlies
11/22: at New Orleans Pelicans
11/24: vs. Miami Heat
11/26: at Charlotte Hornets
11/27: at Philadelphia 76ers

What record through 20 games, if any, would make you think twice about making a trade for Ben Simmons or any other roster-altering piece?

This question didn't get too many responses at the time, but since we're actually through 20 games I feel like we should revisit it.

Minnesota's won six of their last seven games and seven of their last 10. We haven't seen this much winning over a stretch of games since the early 2000's. The Wolves sit at 10-10 on the season and are currently tied with the sixth-seed Blazers.

Would you make a big roster shakeup -- ie. trading several key players and draft picks for Ben Simmons -- or let the team continue on its course? I feel like if it isn't broken, then don't fix it. I like this team as it's currently constructed and would only be shopping for a big-bodied center that could provide toughness on the interior. I also wouldn't mind adding another veteran ball-handler at the trade deadline. Minor moves that could help the current team, but I'm not turning over the roster based on what I've seen thus far.

I agree, Cam. I like this team and I don't want to see them make any major personnel moves. I still like the idea of swapping one of our non-rotation wings and perhaps a future 2nd-round pick or two for another team's big who isn't getting much playing time. You've listed the ones I have in mind in another thread. They include Moses Brown, Robin Lopez and Alex Len.

Q12543 wrote:FNG, the problem is you really can't play Ben with Vando. Neither is willing or able to hit a shot outside of 8 feet and it's very difficult to run an offense these days with two guys that are total non-shooters. That mitigates how much he can add defensively since you essentially can't play two of your best defenders at once. So there is a diminishing return we get on defense from Ben and what do we give up offensively to get him? One of our few reliable outside shooters. I think our defense would get marginally better and our offense would potentially get worse.

Yeah, I agree that Ben and Vando is far from an ideal combo. But I would rank Vando as our 5th best defender after the trade I suggest (I love Vando's energy, and I was almost as early as you on the bandwagon last season, but I prefer Jaden, PatBev, and JO on D). Vando gets all 13 minutes Ben is on the bench, plus another 7 or so together...preferably at the end of the game when we are protecting a lead. We lose DLo's shooting, but let's be realistic about that...his 40% shooting this season and 34% on threes are only 2 percentage points lower than his career averages. And both are far below the league average for guards.

Likely still only a theoretical discussion though...Morey is still unlikely to accept this deal.