Your Best and Final Realistic Wolves Offer For Ben Simmons

[Lipoli390]

OK. Here's one last Ben Simmons thread devoted solely to what each of us would be willing to offer as our best and final proposal with a realistic chance of getting a yes from Morey. You should assume that Beal, Lillard and Fox will remain unavailable. You can constrain your offer in whatever way you want, while still proposing a realistic package that would stand a reasonable chance of being accepted.

I'm constraining my offer by keeping KAT, Edwards and McDaniels off the table. I'm assuming that Simmons will follow through on his threat to sit out training camp and that the market for Ben will remain relatively cool, but a bit warmer than now. I'm also assuming, based on the reports and commons sense that the Sixers need to get a win-now package in return. In other words, draft picks are icing but not enough without a player or two who can blend well with Embiid and Harris and help them remain a contender next season. With those things in mind, here's my best and final offer for Ben Simmons:

Sixers Get
1. D'Angelo Russell
2. Malik Beasley
3. Wolves 2022 1st-round pick (top 4 protected, then unprotected in 2023)
4. Wolves 2022 2nd-round pick (via Philly)
5. Wolves 2022 2nd-round pick (via Wizards)
6. Wolves 2024 1st-round pick (lottery protected through 2026 then converts to 2027 & 2028 2nd-round picks)

Wolves Get:
1. Simmons
2. Shake Milton
3. Paul Reed

The Sixers might get a better offer from another team, but I think this would be a strong offer from the Wolves. Russell and Beasley would provide offensive firepower to complement the Sixers' defensive stalwarts - Embiid, Harris and Thybulle. Russell and Beasley are also just entering their prime and have the potential to help keep the Sixers in contention. The picks provide very tasty frosting for the DLO/Beasley cake. I don't think that DLO or Beasley alone would offer enough win-now ammunition to get a yes from Morey, no matter now many picks are thrown in. And while I'm super high on Jaden, he's still more of a long-term value than a win-now piece, which means he has more value to a really young team like the Wolves trying to make the playoffs than an older team trying to win a championship next season. I don't buy the notion that Morey is going to deal Simmons based on the assumption that he can eventually get the star he wants with a bunch of picks sometime down the road. The Sixers' ownership and Embiid are not going to take a pass on this season and whether a bunch of picks can eventually be turned into Beal or Lillard is highly speculative and uncertain.

Shake Milton and Paul Reed would be necessary to match salaries. They'd be good additions to the Wolves with Milton providing some of the 3-point shooting lost with the departure of DLO and Beasley while Reed would provide another young big who can rebound and defend. Instead of those two, the Sixers could simply substitute Maxey to match salaries and since he has the same agent as Simmons I could see Philly preferring to move him. Their agent has already said he wants Maxey out of Philly. However, Maxey wouldn't be as good a deal as Milton and Reed for the Wolves in my view. Nevertheless, I'd take Maxey instead if absolutely necessary to make the deal happen. Another alternative would be Thybulle instead of Milton and Reed. That would make the incoming package almost entirely defensive-oriented. Note that the deal I'm suggesting, with our without any of the tweaks I've alluded to, would net the Wolves another $9.5M of space under the luxury tax threshold. Philly's already over the luxury tax threshold and they're in full championship contention mode, so the extra luxury tax burden shouldn't be a show-stopper for them.

So there you have it. My best and final offer to Morey. There's a part of me that would want the Sixers to turn it down. If the deal happened, it would instantly transform the Wolves from a potential high-octane offense team trying to be just good enough defensively into a defensive team hoping to have enough offense. We'd have a starting lineup of Simmons, Edwards, McDaniels, Vanderbilt and KAT with Beverley as our likely 6th man.

[FNG]

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.

[Phenom]

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.

[Coolbreeze44]

I don't think we can make a deal, mainly because Rosas values DLO much more than Philly does. If Morey did value DLO, I would say DLO, Reid, and two number ones.

[Monster]

Lip I think this is a great thread. I actually think what you gave up for Simmons in your scenario is close to what I might be willing to give up.

I've tried to post a reply to your question 2 times before this post I am writing now. I just find it difficult to come up with what I would really give up because there are so many scenarios, contingencies based on salary of player I am giving up their value etc and that's before even considering it's VERY likely we have to add in a 3rd team to make a deal work. It's too much AND I think it shows how a Simmons trade might be very difficult to actually pull off. Basically some other team has to be willing to offer a player better than what the Wolves will offer but be excited about the assets the Wolves are offering for Simmons. I really don't know what Morey is going to want in some of those scenarios and in some cases will that 3rd team want the Wolves assets or just trade for Simmons themselves? Idk.

Ok fine what I'll give up for Simmons: a box of 25 donuts from Han's bakery, Taurean Prince, the draft rights to Paulao Prestes AND Hank Norel plus the exclusive rights to sign The SP as a FA, a signed Ed Davis jersey, Jake Layman, McKinley Wright, the Iowa Wolves 1st pick in the Gleague Draft in the following years 2021, 2023, 2025 and a G-league pick swap in 2056. Your move Daryl.

[TAFKASP]

Too bad we already traded Wiggins, because I'd offer him straight up for Simmons, or a ham sandwich for that matter.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

This would be the most that I would offer if the market was much hotter than expected for Ben Simmons. Let me reiterate that Philadelphia will not get this in return for Simmons and I do think Minnesota can acquire him for less than what I'm going to suggest below.

Philadelphia:
- Ben Simmons

Minnesota:
- Malik Beasley
- Patrick Beverley
- Jaden McDaniels
- 2022 first-round pick (unprotected)
- 2024 first-round pick (unprotected)
- 2026 first-round pick (top-four protected)
- 2028 first-round pick (top-four protected)
- 2023 first-round pick swap
- 2022 second-round pick (via Washington)

I think you also find a taker for Jake Layman's $3.9-million salary even if it costs you the Philadelphia/Denver second-round pick that Minnesota owns. Oklahoma City seems like an easy target for such a trade.

Edit:

PG: D'Angelo Russell / Jordan McLaughlin / McKinley Wright
SG: Anthony Edwards / Jaylen Nowell
SF: Taurean Prince / Josh Okogie / Leandro Bolmaro
PF: Ben Simmons / Jarred Vanderbilt / Nathan Knight
C: Karl-Anthony Towns / Naz Reid

[Coolbreeze44]

This would be the most that I would offer if the market was much hotter than expected for Ben Simmons. Let me reiterate that Philadelphia will not get this in return for Simmons and I do think Minnesota can acquire him for less than what I'm going to suggest below.

Philadelphia:
- Ben Simmons

Minnesota:
- Malik Beasley
- Patrick Beverley
- Jaden McDaniels
- 2022 first-round pick (unprotected)
- 2024 first-round pick (unprotected)
- 2026 first-round pick (top-four protected)
- 2028 first-round pick (top-four protected)
- 2023 first-round pick swap
- 2022 second-round pick (via Washington)

I think you also find a taker for Jake Layman's $3.9-million salary even if it costs you the Philadelphia/Denver second-round pick that Minnesota owns. Oklahoma City seems like an easy target for such a trade.

Edit:

PG: D'Angelo Russell / Jordan McLaughlin / McKinley Wright
SG: Anthony Edwards / Jaylen Nowell
SF: Taurean Prince / Josh Okogie / Leandro Bolmaro
PF: Ben Simmons / Jarred Vanderbilt / Nathan Knight
C: Karl-Anthony Towns / Naz Reid

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

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

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.

[BloopOracle]

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