NBA Rumors: Potential Three-Team Deal That Brings Ben Simmons To Minnesota

Ben Simmons remains in Philadelphia, but the Minnesota Timberwolves are still chasing after the All-Star point-forward.

The Philadelphia 76ers’ season was cut short after an embarrassing series loss to the Atlanta Hawks, mainly thanks to Simmons’ inability to produce points.

Simmons has reportedly not returned any of the Sixers’ calls after the public flogging he received from the team’s fans, and even teammate Joel Embiid could not get through to him.

With a trade seemingly bound to happen this offseason, Simmons’ name was connected to teams across the league.

No feasible trade rumor has gotten traction, however, thanks to the team’s ludicrous demands.

Despite this, the Timberwolves remain interested in Simmons.

The franchise has mired in mediocrity for most of its existence, and when they drafted Karl-Anthony Towns, many believed their torment was over.

That would not necessarily be the case though, as they only had one playoff appearance in the past decade in 2018 and their lone playoff appearance since the 2004 postseason.

Pairing Simmons with Towns seems like a match made in heaven as both players help shore up each other’s weaknesses.

As much as they want Simmons, the Sixers’ demands of a “James Harden-like package” for him insinuate the need for a third team.

Theoretically, the Timberwolves can land Simmons since they still have all of their own first-round picks until 2029, so that solves the draft compensation part.

They will also surely throw in D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley as part of the package, but they would need more pieces from Philly to facilitate the trade.

When this deal was processed through the ESPN Trade Machine, the Sixers would also need to part with either Shake Milton or Matisse Thybulle to make the salaries work--a scenario that is not expected to happen, which requires the need for a third team.

A possible third team would be the Memphis Grizzlies as Patrick Beverly could find himself in Philadelphia in this scenario.

Using the Trade Machine again to confirm the validity of the trade, the Sixers will be getting Russell and Beverly. Meanwhile, Minnesota receives Thybulle and Simmons as they send Beasley to Memphis plus some picks.

All of these trades are pipedream trades for the Timberwolves, but if they are able to convince the Sixers, the NBA would be witness to the formation of another "Big Three" in the form of Simmons, Towns and Anthony Edwards.