Willing to mortgage the next ten years?

[Porckchop]

If we give up players and 3-4 first round pics for Simmons and he doesn't work out where does that leave this team going forward? Small market team doesn't simply pick up the pieces and go after the next top free agents and forget about the past like the Lakers can. It could ruin this team for a long time. Not only would Ben be gone but wasted would be Towns prime and DLOs. With no picks to show for it. This guy isn't a prime Lebron James type player. He's a top 25-30 player in this league.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

If it doesn't work out, or rather it doesn't show signs of working out, then Minnesota would sell Karl-Anthony Towns, Ben Simmons, and D'Angelo Russell -- if he's extended or re-signed -- and recoup more than enough draft capital to continue building around Anthony Edwards. I'm not sure what the confusion is there. This has been said numerous times. That would be the play.

[Porckchop]

If it doesn't work out, or rather it doesn't show signs of working out, then Minnesota would sell Karl-Anthony Towns, Ben Simmons, and D'Angelo Russell -- if he's extended or re-signed -- and recoup more than enough draft capital to continue building around Anthony Edwards. I'm not sure what the confusion is there. This has been said numerous times. That would be the play.

Relax Cam. It's not like we haven't had 10 Simmons threads all saying the same thing of which you contribute too. What's one more?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

If it doesn't work out, or rather it doesn't show signs of working out, then Minnesota would sell Karl-Anthony Towns, Ben Simmons, and D'Angelo Russell -- if he's extended or re-signed -- and recoup more than enough draft capital to continue building around Anthony Edwards. I'm not sure what the confusion is there. This has been said numerous times. That would be the play.

Relax Cam. It's not like we haven't had 10 Simmons threads all saying the same thing of which you contribute too. What's one more?

You're right, Pork. I guess the Wolves are doomed no matter what they do. They aren't the Lakers. They shouldn't even try to be competitive let alone contend.

[Monster]

What if it does work out?

What if they do this deal and the Wolves are high level playoff team for the next 5-7 years? Is that a terrible outcome?

Honestly right now I'm leaning towards not dealing for Simmons but there is a chance it would be a very good move if the Wolves do make a deal to acquire him even if the price seems high (what is too high for one person might be perfectly acceptable to someone else).

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Yeah, I'm on the fence a bit with Simmons too, but to Cam's point, if it doesn't work out, it's not like we'd be stuck with a bunch of untradeable assets. Plus let's face it, the franchise HAS been a trainwreck for nearly its entire history. It's not like we've got this great thing going right now that would be put in jeopardy by this trade.

[Lipoli390]

Yeah, I'm on the fence a bit with Simmons too, but to Cam's point, if it doesn't work out, it's not like we'd be stuck with a bunch of untradeable assets. Plus let's face it, the franchise HAS been a trainwreck for nearly its entire history. It's not like we've got this great thing going right now that would be put in jeopardy by this trade.

I actually think we might have a great thing going with roster. After seeing what Edwards and McDaniels can do and watching this team under a good head coach (Finch), I see something special with this team. Look at what Phoenix did with Booker, Ayton and Bridges - even before Chris Paul arrived. Or how about Atlanta with Trae Young, John Collins and Capella. I see more talent in KAT, Edwards and DLO than I see in Booker, Ayton and Bridges or Young, Collins and Capella. This teams is not Ant's team. He's the star who pairs with KAT as a secondary star. If DLO can be the player he was the 2018-19 season - and there's good reason to believe he can be - then this team doesn't have to pursue Simmons.

In the end, it depends what the Wolves have to give up for Simmons. If it's Beasley, Prince and half our remaining 1st round picks this decade, that's a lot. But I might be willing to go there if we don't also give up McDaniels or Beverley. I don't want to give up any two-way defenders to get a one-and-a-half way defender in Simmons. There's something about Simmons that troubles me - and it's not just his free-throw shooting. There's something above the neck or in his chest that's missing and that could be problematic for a team like the Wolves that doesn't have an established culture of winning and accountability and that has been lacking mental toughness.

I'm probably in the minority on this board, but I'm content and even excepted to move forward this season with what we have and keep all of our picks for future use for adding young talent or as trade assets down the road when we find out exactly what we have.

[kekgeek]

I think you can look at it from both ways though. What happens if it works. The Wolves would be gaining an All NBA player who is young under contract who was the 2nd best player on the #1 seed in the west who was successful when Embiid was hurt.


Also not doing the trade could be setting the Wolves into another long rebuild. If Ant and McDaniels don't take that next step up the Wolves are looking at no playoffs. Kat asking for a trade. Dlo going into his last year and the Wolves starting their next rebuild again.


There is risk into both options. I prefer to be aggressive because I know Simmons is a stud and believe Simmons, Kat, Ant and possibly Dlo could be a title contender. I don't know if McDaniels and multiple draft picks could be a contender in the next 3 years.

*i want to say I'm ok with the wolves not trading for Simmons just think if you believe in Kat you should be making the trade to get a me for sure player

[mrhockey89]

If it doesn't work out, or rather it doesn't show signs of working out, then Minnesota would sell Karl-Anthony Towns, Ben Simmons, and D'Angelo Russell -- if he's extended or re-signed -- and recoup more than enough draft capital to continue building around Anthony Edwards. I'm not sure what the confusion is there. This has been said numerous times. That would be the play.

Agreed 100%. Simmons, Towns, and D-Lo are all 25 years old, while Ant is 20. If we sell 3-4 1sts and a couple mid-tier players on decent contracts for him, we make our run. Now is the time, when the majority of our stars are in their prime. If in 2-3 years we aren't a contender, we can blow it up, or blow part of it up, and get a boatload of picks in return as those guys will all still be in their primes.

[Lipoli390]

I think you can look at it from both ways though. What happens if it works. The Wolves would be gaining an All NBA player who is young under contract who was the 2nd best player on the #1 seed in the west who was successful when Embiid was hurt.


Also not doing the trade could be setting the Wolves into another long rebuild. If Ant and McDaniels don't take that next step up the Wolves are looking at no playoffs. Kat asking for a trade. Dlo going into his last year and the Wolves starting their next rebuild again.


There is risk into both options. I prefer to be aggressive because I know Simmons is a stud and believe Simmons, Kat, Ant and possibly Dlo could be a title contender. I don't know if McDaniels and multiple draft picks could be a contender in the next 3 years.

*i want to say I'm ok with the wolves not trading for Simmons just think if you believe in Kat you should be making the trade to get a me for sure player

Good points, Kek. I can definitely see the case for getting Simmons. But I really like the long-term sustainabilty of a team with three really good players just entering their prime (KAT, DLO and Beasley) and another two players on rookie deals who are poised to take big leaps forward in their 2nd and 3rd seasons as most good players do. Bolmaro could make it a young trio to complement the slightly older trio. Moreover, I think it's important to have team success and a team identity before making a major acquisition that substantially depletes your forward-looking resources - future picks/young talent. That's what Golden State did with Curry, Thompson and Green before acquiring Iggy. Same for Phoenix before acquiring Chris Paul. But again, I see why trading for Simmons makes sense as well.

Trading DLO for Simmons makes sense as an upgrade and a shift from offense to defense, provided we don't give up Jaden or too many future picks. As an alternative, trading half of our future picks this decade along with Prince and Beasley could also make sense. That would be the "mortgage the future" scenario. I'd be hesitant to do that, but I see the argument for it, especially if we keep Jaden. If it were me, I might do it but, again, I wouldn't give up Jaden in any trade scenario.

I'm not sure how Simmons would fit with KAT, DLO and Edwards. That strikes me as too many players who need the ball to be effective. I can see DLO playing off the ball more, but I think Edwards has to have the ball in his hands a lot to take full advantage of his talent. Simmons needs the ball to take advantage of his offensive skills - passing and driving. I don't see much sense in playing Simmons off the ball. Meanwhile, KAT needs lots of touches too.