The NBA trade market can be a complex system at times. This ongoing Ben Simmons saga is the perfect example of that reality.
On one hand, the Sixers view Ben as a young, multiple-time NBA All-Star who can finish around the rim, make plays for others, and defend the opposition’s best players. In the eyes of Daryl Morey and the Sixers front-office, to give him up for anything but a haul involving multiple young stars and high draft picks would be lunacy.
On the other hand, Simmons is coming off the worst stretch of his career, in which he embarrassed himself and his team in the Eastern Conference playoffs. By the end of it, everybody understood that the young star has some serious problems with both shooting the basketball and the self-confidence to keep shooting in spite of his struggles.
The situation has gotten pretty intense, and it’s clear that no team has been willing to step up with an offer that lives up to Philadelphia’s expectations.
That might include the Minnesota Timberwolves as well.
Obviously, the Sixers would expect an offer involving at least one of Minnesota’s key members, but probably even two between the KAT/Russell/Edwards trio.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that the Timberwolves are willing to give up much of anything at all.
They want a premium for [Simmons],” Krawczynski said of the Sixers on the “Athletic NBA Show” podcast on Friday. “Someone that can help them right away. But the Timberwolves don’t want to trade Anthony Edwards or Karl-Anthony towns. Those are those are deal-breakers. And they really would rather not trade D’Angelo Russell.”
So, without Towns or Russell or Edwards, can the Wolves come up with an offer that might draw consideration by Morey?
At this point, probably not.
But as time continues to roll on, and the Sixers’ leverage keeps on tumbling, anything could be possible before the start of the new season.
