Trade Talk (Part Six)

[Neeva]

Green or Cunningham will be the stars. Suggs and Mobley elite role players but still role players...

[SO_MONEY]

Green or Cunningham will be the stars. Suggs and Mobley elite role players but still role players...

I tend to agree. Suggs and Mobley are my 3rd and 4th guys, not sure which order though.

[breatnach]

I think you need to at least call Philly and inquire about a D'Lo swap. They might just be low enough on Ben to consider it.

As for us, whether you play 4-on-5 offense or 4-on-5 defense probably doesn't make a huge difference in the long run. At least Simmons won't take the ball away from A1 or Towns. We had some success with a Towns / Taj frontcourt, despite Taj not providing any spacing. And much like Taj, Simmons would mask some of Towns' defensive shortcomings.

[theGreatRC]

Would not trade DLO for Ben...shooting is gold in the playoffs & DLO can create his own bucket. Ben literally refuses to score

[breatnach]

I think it's a mental thing with Simmons (like when he passed up the dunk) and he needs a change of scenery. All-offense teams tend to not get far in the playoffs and I think between KAT, Malik and A1 we have enough shooting. At least this year, the good teams can get away with one bad shooter (Ayton, Gobert, Capela). Even Giannis and Jokic aren't good shooters, but their teams are built around that fact.

[Neeva]

I think you need to at least call Philly and inquire about a D'Lo swap. They might just be low enough on Ben to consider it.

As for us, whether you play 4-on-5 offense or 4-on-5 defense probably doesn't make a huge difference in the long run. At least Simmons won't take the ball away from A1 or Towns. We had some success with a Towns / Taj frontcourt, despite Taj not providing any spacing. And much like Taj, Simmons would mask some of Towns' defensive shortcomings.

If the wolves get Suggs/Green and Ant wants Rubio to stick around, perhaps?

[Baseline81]

Would not trade DLO for Ben...shooting is gold in the playoffs & DLO can create his own bucket. Ben literally refuses to score

That may be true, however, the Wolves have made the playoffs once since the 2004-2005 season when Garnett took the team to the conference finals.

[bluethunder0005]

You'd need a team built similar to the Warriors to have Simmons play a Draymond Green role for the team to work. You'd need a ton of shooting around him and if the game drags down to a half court offense, Simmons almost has to be the only non-perimeter player on the court. He is just that much of a non-threat.

[TheZachAttack]

You'd need a team built similar to the Warriors to have Simmons play a Draymond Green role for the team to work. You'd need a ton of shooting around him and if the game drags down to a half court offense, Simmons almost has to be the only non-perimeter player on the court. He is just that much of a non-threat.

I'm not saying that the Wolves should do this, but if they did they would certainly get Simmons at this point. Trade Simmons for Anthony Edwards.

D Lo
Beasley
Simmons (Draymond role)
McDaniels
Towns

That team has more shooting/spacing than the Warriors team did and would certainly allow for Simmons to thrive in transition and give him space to operate in the half court where he doesn't overlap. You also mitigate his weaknesses because D Lo/Towns could be the primary creators in the halfcourt.

[Baseline81]

I'm not saying that the Wolves should do this, but if they did they would certainly get Simmons at this point. Trade Simmons for Anthony Edwards.

D Lo
Beasley
Simmons (Draymond role)
McDaniels
Towns

That team has more shooting/spacing than the Warriors team did and would certainly allow for Simmons to thrive in transition and give him space to operate in the half court where he doesn't overlap. You also mitigate his weaknesses because D Lo/Towns could be the primary creators in the halfcourt.

Insert Michael Scott "No" gif.

[jpatrick]

Edwards has much more value than Simmons at the moment. Towns as well. I’d say even the #3 pick does. We have to remember Simmons is someone that put up a total of 3 fourth quarter shots in the fourth quarters of a seven game series the 76ers just lost and was off the floor for much of those fourth quarters because he was unplayable. That’s a risk to salvage, especially when you consider he’s got four years of max salary left on that deal.

[shrink]

I just wanted to say that over the years, there has always been this desire to believe that, “if the Wolves could just add Player X, our problems would be solved.” It’s compelling because it provides so much optimism and is easy to imagine.

Maybe that guy right now is Miles Turner, but if it isn’t, it’s Ben Simmons. He’s been that guy off and on for the last three years. I think anyone who’s watched “playoff Ben Simmons” and still sees him as the answer, may be too stuck on their previous conceptions, and hoping beyond hope because they want to believe.

[TheZachAttack]

I'm not saying that the Wolves should do this, but if they did they would certainly get Simmons at this point. Trade Simmons for Anthony Edwards.

D Lo
Beasley
Simmons (Draymond role)
McDaniels
Towns

That team has more shooting/spacing than the Warriors team did and would certainly allow for Simmons to thrive in transition and give him space to operate in the half court where he doesn't overlap. You also mitigate his weaknesses because D Lo/Towns could be the primary creators in the halfcourt.

Insert Michael Scott "No" gif.

Reading comprehension. I didn't say that the Wolves should make the trade. I said that trade would put Simmons in the best position possible roster-construction wise to maximize his talents--that's all. I also didn't say it should be just Edwards for Simmons. Though I would argue, that that team would be a championship contender as well, but again I probably wouldn't advocate for the Wolves making that trade given where Simmons current value is at.

[shrink]

Simmons is obviously a talented player, and he helps many of our problems on the defensive end of the court. That said, I would not trade for the guy.

1. MIN literally has one match up advantage on the team - KAT. If our PF can shoot three’s, every opposing player must be able to defend out to the perimeter. Adding Ben Simmons let’s opposing coaches keep their highly skilled big men firmly planted in the paint, and removes our best and only advantage.

2. Ben Simmons is ridiculously hard to build around. It’s not just adding a max salary - it’s that every player on the team needs to fit around him. He is maximized as a distributing point guard, but he can’t shoot, and struggles to create for himself at the basket. People know I’m no fan of D’Angelo Russell, but he has these primary skills that are required in a PG. in addition, every player on the floor needs to be able to shoot three’s, because you can’t have two opposing players clogging the paint, or taking each other’s shots. I don’t want team construction to be based on maximizing Simmons - I want it to be based on maximizing KAT and Edwards.

3. Simmons removes your upside. Ben Simmons is certainly a good player overall, and he would help us win more regular season games. However, he was completely exposed in the playoffs. Playoff teams know his weaknesses, and I think he limits the team’s ceiling to early first round exits. Simmons max salary limits our ability to get talent in free agency, and non-lotto picks keep us from improving through the draft. I would hope MIN’s goal wouldn’t be to be a treadmill team like ORL or CHA all those years, happy to make the playoffs with no chance to advance.

[Baseline81]

Simmons is obviously a talented player, and he helps many of our problems on the defensive end of the court. That said, I would not trade for the guy.

1. MIN literally has one match up advantage on the team - KAT. If our PF can shoot three’s, every opposing player must be able to defend out to the perimeter. Adding Ben Simmons let’s opposing coaches keep their highly skilled big men firmly planted in the paint, and removes our best and only advantage.

2. Ben Simmons is ridiculously hard to build around. It’s not just adding a max salary - it’s that every player on the team needs to fit around him. He is maximized as a distributing point guard, but he can’t shoot, and struggles to create for himself at the basket. People know I’m no fan of D’Angelo Russell, but he has these primary skills that are required in a PG. in addition, every player on the floor needs to be able to shoot three’s, because you can’t have two opposing players clogging the paint, or taking each other’s shots. I don’t want team construction to be based on maximizing Simmons - I want it to be based on maximizing KAT and Edwards.

3. Simmons removes your upside. Ben Simmons is certainly a good player overall, and he would help us win more regular season games. However, he was completely exposed in the playoffs. Playoff teams know his weaknesses, and I think he limits the team’s ceiling to early first round exits. Simmons max salary limits our ability to get talent in free agency, and non-lotto picks keep us from improving through the draft. I would hope MIN’s goal wouldn’t be to be a treadmill team like ORL or CHA all those years, happy to make the playoffs with no chance to advance.

1. Vanderbilt had a total of 5 3PA this season. He played in several games next to Towns in which the Wolves won.

2. How does one maximize Towns with no cap space and, barring lottery luck, no pick this summer?

3. You would honestly rather miss the post season than reach it? If the Wolves had Simmons, why would they have no chance to advance past the first round when the 76ers proved they could (game 7 of the second round)? I would point out the offense would revolve around Edwards, Russell and Towns compared to Embiid, Harris and Simmons.

[ChiefKeith91]

Simmons is obviously a talented player, and he helps many of our problems on the defensive end of the court. That said, I would not trade for the guy.

1. MIN literally has one match up advantage on the team - KAT. If our PF can shoot three’s, every opposing player must be able to defend out to the perimeter. Adding Ben Simmons let’s opposing coaches keep their highly skilled big men firmly planted in the paint, and removes our best and only advantage.

2. Ben Simmons is ridiculously hard to build around. It’s not just adding a max salary - it’s that every player on the team needs to fit around him. He is maximized as a distributing point guard, but he can’t shoot, and struggles to create for himself at the basket. People know I’m no fan of D’Angelo Russell, but he has these primary skills that are required in a PG. in addition, every player on the floor needs to be able to shoot three’s, because you can’t have two opposing players clogging the paint, or taking each other’s shots. I don’t want team construction to be based on maximizing Simmons - I want it to be based on maximizing KAT and Edwards.

3. Simmons removes your upside. Ben Simmons is certainly a good player overall, and he would help us win more regular season games. However, he was completely exposed in the playoffs. Playoff teams know his weaknesses, and I think he limits the team’s ceiling to early first round exits. Simmons max salary limits our ability to get talent in free agency, and non-lotto picks keep us from improving through the draft. I would hope MIN’s goal wouldn’t be to be a treadmill team like ORL or CHA all those years, happy to make the playoffs with no chance to advance.

1. Vanderbilt had a total of 5 3PA this season. He played in several games next to Towns in which the Wolves won.

2. How does one maximize Towns with no cap space and, barring lottery luck, no pick this summer?

3. You would honestly rather miss the post season than reach it? If the Wolves had Simmons, why would they have no chance to advance past the first round when the 76ers proved they could (game 7 of the second round)? I would point out the offense would revolve around Edwards, Russell and Towns compared to Embiid, Harris and Simmons.

Agreed. I’ve seen a lot of fans say Simmons would only get us to a 2nd round exit . For a team that missed the playoffs for 15/16 years I’ll take that 2nd round in a heartbeat. Ppl are delusional to think we’re going to just make a jump from Lottery team to WCF.

Benefits for Simmons to Min
-Smaller Market ( Mistakes aren’t magnified)
-Change of scenery
-Better spacing (KAT, DLo, Ant etc)
-Adds much needed defense and rebounding

I do think his usage rate should be a lot lower. He’d be best in a Draymond role of Playmaking and guarding best player.


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[TheProdigy]

I still think Simmons can be part of a championship team but he's really hard to build around. You need to surround him with a bunch of really good defenders who can spread the floor, like what Milwaukee has done around Giannis. It also helps to have a coach that pushes the tempo to create mismatches in transition.

Simmons simply doesn't fit on a team with Edwards. Edwards is a rhythm player who needs to have the ball in his hands so he can learn how to consistently break down a defense and create shots for his teammates. Simmons would clog the lane too much if he weren't the primary ball handler.

[SO_MONEY]

Simmons is obviously a talented player, and he helps many of our problems on the defensive end of the court. That said, I would not trade for the guy.

1. MIN literally has one match up advantage on the team - KAT. If our PF can shoot three’s, every opposing player must be able to defend out to the perimeter. Adding Ben Simmons let’s opposing coaches keep their highly skilled big men firmly planted in the paint, and removes our best and only advantage.

2. Ben Simmons is ridiculously hard to build around. It’s not just adding a max salary - it’s that every player on the team needs to fit around him. He is maximized as a distributing point guard, but he can’t shoot, and struggles to create for himself at the basket. People know I’m no fan of D’Angelo Russell, but he has these primary skills that are required in a PG. in addition, every player on the floor needs to be able to shoot three’s, because you can’t have two opposing players clogging the paint, or taking each other’s shots. I don’t want team construction to be based on maximizing Simmons - I want it to be based on maximizing KAT and Edwards.

3. Simmons removes your upside. Ben Simmons is certainly a good player overall, and he would help us win more regular season games. However, he was completely exposed in the playoffs. Playoff teams know his weaknesses, and I think he limits the team’s ceiling to early first round exits. Simmons max salary limits our ability to get talent in free agency, and non-lotto picks keep us from improving through the draft. I would hope MIN’s goal wouldn’t be to be a treadmill team like ORL or CHA all those years, happy to make the playoffs with no chance to advance.

1. Vanderbilt had a total of 5 3PA this season. He played in several games next to Towns in which the Wolves won.

2. How does one maximize Towns with no cap space and, barring lottery luck, no pick this summer?

3. You would honestly rather miss the post season than reach it? If the Wolves had Simmons, why would they have no chance to advance past the first round when the 76ers proved they could (game 7 of the second round)? I would point out the offense would revolve around Edwards, Russell and Towns compared to Embiid, Harris and Simmons.

Agreed. I’ve seen a lot of fans say Simmons would only get us to a 2nd round exit . For a team that missed the playoffs for 15/16 years I’ll take that 2nd round in a heartbeat. Ppl are delusional to think we’re going to just make a jump from Lottery team to WCF.

Benefits for Simmons to Min
-Smaller Market ( Mistakes aren’t magnified)
-Change of scenery
-Better spacing (KAT, DLo, Ant etc)
-Adds much needed defense and rebounding

I do think his usage rate should be a lot lower. He’d be best in a Draymond role of Playmaking and guarding best player.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

I completely disagree he would help with spacing, he would do the opposite.

[NebWolvesFan]

I would trade Russell for Simmons. I think it would be good for both players. if Minnesota could snap Simmons for Russell, they would still have enough assets left (especially if they get back their 2022 first on Tuesday night) to also get Turner from IND. If Minnesota could acquire Simmons and Turner and keep Edwards, Towns and Beasley, they would have a nice mix of elite offense and defense.

That being said, I don't think Rosas will move Russell for Simmons. I think he lost his taste for all-around players who struggle to shoot after seeing Culver fail.

[shrink]

Simmons is obviously a talented player, and he helps many of our problems on the defensive end of the court. That said, I would not trade for the guy.

1. MIN literally has one match up advantage on the team - KAT. If our PF can shoot three’s, every opposing player must be able to defend out to the perimeter. Adding Ben Simmons let’s opposing coaches keep their highly skilled big men firmly planted in the paint, and removes our best and only advantage.

2. Ben Simmons is ridiculously hard to build around. It’s not just adding a max salary - it’s that every player on the team needs to fit around him. He is maximized as a distributing point guard, but he can’t shoot, and struggles to create for himself at the basket. People know I’m no fan of D’Angelo Russell, but he has these primary skills that are required in a PG. in addition, every player on the floor needs to be able to shoot three’s, because you can’t have two opposing players clogging the paint, or taking each other’s shots. I don’t want team construction to be based on maximizing Simmons - I want it to be based on maximizing KAT and Edwards.

3. Simmons removes your upside. Ben Simmons is certainly a good player overall, and he would help us win more regular season games. However, he was completely exposed in the playoffs. Playoff teams know his weaknesses, and I think he limits the team’s ceiling to early first round exits. Simmons max salary limits our ability to get talent in free agency, and non-lotto picks keep us from improving through the draft. I would hope MIN’s goal wouldn’t be to be a treadmill team like ORL or CHA all those years, happy to make the playoffs with no chance to advance.

1. Vanderbilt had a total of 5 3PA this season. He played in several games next to Towns in which the Wolves won.

2. How does one maximize Towns with no cap space and, barring lottery luck, no pick this summer?

3. You would honestly rather miss the post season than reach it? If the Wolves had Simmons, why would they have no chance to advance past the first round when the 76ers proved they could (game 7 of the second round)? I would point out the offense would revolve around Edwards, Russell and Towns compared to Embiid, Harris and Simmons.

1. You may win regular season games with Vanderbilt, and more regular season games with Simmons. However, if they can’t shoot, playoff teams will scheme them and you will lose. I know fans want to get in the playoffs, but do you want to be ORL and make it, with no chance to get better? Or do you want to look elsewhere, and get the occasional Anthony Edwards with a high lottery pick, and not have all your finances locked up for years?

2. If you add Simmons, you have less financial wiggle room, and no high picks. You also are forced to build around him, rather than Towns, so this is a worse way to maximize Towns.

3. I don’t want to be an ORL, who has a treadmill team. MIN has finally got it’s players healthy, they have one of the youngest teams in the league, Ant could be great, and we may get a top 3 pick. Simmons is not a playoff player, and while he increases our floor, he reduces our ceiling. We will never be an actual contender with Simmons, especially when we are forced to build around him, so I think Simmons is a shortcut path to a dead end.