Ben Simmons: Did Someone Say Three-Team Trade?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

There are a plethora of reports indicating that in order for Minnesota to acquire Ben Simmons, they'll need to find a third team that can provide the "win now" players Philadelphia desires in such a trade.

My stance that the Sixers will ultimately take the best value in a trade regardless of the perceived "win now" players included hasn't changed. There are no players available on the trade market that make the Sixers a better team -- more of a championship contender -- than what they trotted out nightly last year with Simmons. The two players who could potentially make them better -- specifically, Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal -- are not being dealt from their current respective teams anytime soon.

With all of that said, I thought it would be fun and/or thought-provoking to create a trade thread where the basketball fans and enthusiasts here can drop their three-team trade ideas where the Wolves acquire Simmons -- or maybe where the Wolves help facilitate a Simmons trade in which they get some other asset. Drop them below. I will copy some of mine over to get it started.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Trade 1:

Minnesota: Ben Simmons

Philadelphia: Dejounte Murray, Malik Beasley, 2026 first-round pick (via Minnesota), and 2028-first round pick (via Minnesota)

San Antonio: Taurean Prince, 2022 first-round pick (via Minnesota), and 2024 first-round pick (via Minnesota)

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Trade 2:

Minnesota: Ben Simmons

Philadelphia: Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson, 2024 first-round pick (via Minnesota), and 2026 first-round pick (via Minnesota)

Memphis: Malik Beasley, Taurean Prince, 2022 first-round pick (via Minnesota), and 2022 second-round pick (via Minnesota via Washington)

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Trade 3:

Minnesota: Ben Simmons

Philadelphia: Malcolm Brogdon, Malik Beasley, 2024 first-round pick (via Minnesota), and 2026 first-round pick (via Minnesota)

Indiana: Tyrese Maxey, Taurean Prince, 2022 first-round pick (via Minnesota), and 2022 second-round pick (via Minnesota via Washington)

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Trade 4:

Minnesota: Ben Simmons

Philadelphia: Colin Sexton, Malik Beasley, Taurean Prince, and 2024 first-round pick (via Minnesota)

Cleveland: Jaden McDaniels, Jake Layman, and 2022 first-round pick (via Minnesota)

[TheGrey08]

Interesting ideas that mostly fit into what I would say are trades with 4 first round picks worth of value. I'd like trade 1 more if it didn't include 4 firsts along with Beasley who I view as being worth a mid first (we've seen teams give a mid firsts for equal or lesser players many times).

[Lipoli390]

Cam - Those are some interesting possibilities. Your trade 4 hypothetical seems to make the most sense for all concerned. Philly gets the best offensive lead guard of the bench while also getting a young sharpshooter in Beasley, a solid vet SF in Prince and a future first-round pick. So why would Cleveland do this deal without getting Simmons? It depends on how much they like McDaniels. He seems like a better fit for them than Sexton with Garland there. And they'd get what could be a lottery pick next summer from the Wolves. But if Cleveland really wants to take a big step forward this next season as has been reported, I think they'd rather use Sexton to get Simmons and I think they have the assets to do it with Sexton, Ricky, multiple first-round picks and Houston's 2022 2nd-round pick.

Doogie's not exactly known for reliable reporting, so who knows what to believe. I don't think OKC is Doogie's mystery small-market team that just entered the mix for Simmons. They have nothing but picks to offer and picks alone won't get it done. They have no players to offer since SGA can't be traded for a while. Cleveland has already been reported as a suitor for Simmons, so it can't be the Cavs. I suspect that the mystery small market team is Orlando. The Magic have all their own future first and second-round picks. They also have the Bulls 2023 1st-round pick, which is only top 4 protected in that year and top 3 protected in 2024 before converting to two 2nd-rounders. They also have Denver's 2025 1st-round pick, which is only top 5 protected. So they have a lot of draft capital to include in a deal - far more than the Wolves have. And unlike OKC, the Magic have worthwhile young players they could include in a deal.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Kinda feels like the 3rd team gets the shaft in most of those deals... especially #4.

Again, imagine the Wolves had this 22 year old...

24.3 ppg
3.1 reb
4.4 apg
47.5% fg
37.1% 3fg
... AND significant improvement over his first 3 seasons...

And we'd be happy with getting a promising but super raw rookie, a worthless contract and yet another #1 pick we'd have to hope and pray becomes as good as the #1 pick we traded away? Wait... What? Why? Of course not.

I know it's a Wolves message board, but I think it's important to dig at least a little bit deeper when including other teams to mythical trades.

[Lipoli390]

Kinda feels like the 3rd team gets the shaft in most of those deals... especially #4.

Again, imagine the Wolves had this 22 year old...

24.3 ppg
3.1 reb
4.4 apg
47.5% fg
37.1% 3fg
... AND significant improvement over his first 3 seasons...

And we'd be happy with getting a promising but super raw rookie, a worthless contract and yet another #1 pick we'd have to hope and pray becomes as good as the #1 pick we traded away? Wait... What? Why? Of course not.

I know it's a Wolves message board, but I think it's important to dig at least a little bit deeper when including other teams to mythical trades.

Yep. I agree with you on Sexton.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Kinda feels like the 3rd team gets the shaft in most of those deals... especially #4.

Again, imagine the Wolves had this 22 year old...

24.3 ppg
3.1 reb
4.4 apg
47.5% fg
37.1% 3fg
... AND significant improvement over his first 3 seasons...

And we'd be happy with getting a promising but super raw rookie, a worthless contract and yet another #1 pick we'd have to hope and pray becomes as good as the #1 pick we traded away? Wait... What? Why? Of course not.

I know it's a Wolves message board, but I think it's important to dig at least a little bit deeper when including other teams to mythical trades.

Like most things, it depends on your scope. Cleveland certainly may view him how you do, or they may see a volume scorer who doesn't facilitate or defend at a high level that they don't want to pay max money to, which has already been hinted at for months now that he's eligible for an extension. And they might want to move on from having him in an undersized backcourt. In that case, moving him for Jaden McDaniels and a first-round pick is solid value, especially if they're of the mindset that McDaniels has high-end starter or near All-Star potential.

I think perhaps you should take your own advice and dig a little bit deeper considering the Collin Sexton trade rumors are aplenty and most of them aren't as favorable as the hypothetical return of McDaniels and a first. But I digress...