The Minnesota Timberwolves face a need to make some key changes in order to take the next step in the Western Conference with Karl-Anthony Towns as the franchise-cornerstone. Could a trade for Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons this NBA offseason be a way to turn things around?
According to Darren Wolfson of SKOR North, the Timberwolves ‘badly’ want to trade for Ben Simmons based on a text conversation he had with someone with knowledge of the situation.
“My text was, ‘How badly do the Wolves want to trade for Ben Simmons,” Wolfson said. “This individual sent me a text back. It was one word, ‘Badly.’ Make no mistake, the Wolves have trade interested in Ben Simmons.”
While Simmons certainly has his flaws — topped by his unwillingness to shoot from the perimeter and his worsened free throw struggles — the Timberwolves would greatly benefit from adding his strengths into the mix. Minnesota needs to find a high-level perimeter defender at the four spot to pair with Karl-Anthony Towns in the frontcourt and Simmons would be precisely that.
READ MORE: NBA Rumors; This Sixers-Timberwolves trade pairs up Ben Simmons, Karl-Anthony Towns
If Ben Simmons is unable to become more of a shooting threat and is increasingly timid due to his free throw shooting woes, he simply cannot be a point guard. He has to be a short-roll playmaking threat and would need to have floor spacing to operate. An ideal frontcourt partner would be Karl-Anthony Towns, who has that type of stretch-five skill-set.
As strange as it sounds, Ben Simmons and Karl-Anthony Towns each are uniquely equipped with the dynamic strengths to help overcome their weaknesses as players. Finding a comparable option would be borderline impossible when weighing the rare strengths they each share.
READ MORE: NBA Rumors: Exec reveals what Philadelphia 76ers should target in Ben Simmons trade
In terms of a potential trade package, it could be complicate for the Timberwolves to field a compelling offer. The team does not have their first-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and surely would not be willing to move either Karl-Anthony Towns or Anthony Edwards in a potential deal.
Unless the 76ers were intrigued by D’Angelo Russell or Malik Beasley, the options would be limited and would require plenty of future draft assets. Would Philadelphia take a trade package without a difference-making star player and without a prime selection in the 2021 NBA Draft? That’s the predicament the Timberwolves face and the competition could out-compete them.
