The Minnesota Timberwolves and Ben Simmons have been linked all offseason. It’s been recently reported that he wants out of Philadelphia, making the pathway to acquiring the All-Star forward clearer.

The Joel Embiid-Simmons fit was always questionable, and after the Philadelphia 76ers recent playoff run, that became more evident. It’s been widely reported that the Sixers aren’t interested in taking back D’Angelo Russell, which is why he’s not a part of the trade below.

The Trade:
Philadelphia Gets: Jaden McDaniels, Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, 2023 unprotected first-round pick, 2025 lottery-protected first-round pick
Minnesota Gets: Ben Simmons

Why Minnesota says yes:

Minnesota says yes to this trade because it’s the worst kept secret around the league that they’re interested in Simmons. Rightfully so, the Wolves aren’t a free agent destination, and anytime you can land a top-30 player, you do it.

Embiid isn’t a stretch-five, but Karl-Anthony Towns is arguably the best shooting big man in the league. Simmons can either drive the lane for an easy bucket or kick out to Towns for an open 3. The former Kentucky Wildcat might be the best center in the league to pair with Simmons.

While Embiid is gifted offensively, Towns is better on that end of the floor. Imagine the potential Simmons could unlock for Towns both offensively and defensively.

Minnesota doesn’t want to give up Russell in a trade because they see him as one of their core pieces. Russell would benefit from another ball-handler on the floor, and it would alleviate some of the pressure on that end. Much like Towns, Russell can spot up from 3 and find a lot of easy buckets.

Russell likes to work in the pick and roll, and Simmons would benefit from a lot of lob dunks. They were also high school teammates and would already have that chemistry.

Anthony Edwards is the future of this team, and these two can feed off each other for the next several years. Simmons plays with pace, and Edwards is a freak athlete who can get out in transition for easy dunks. The former Georgia Bulldog has the potential of becoming a good 3-point shooter, and if that comes to fruition, then Simmons has another floor spacer to operate with.

In April, Edwards shot 34.4 percent and from 3 and 40.6 percent in May. He showed a lot of progress in the second half of the season, proving that he can be a potential All-Star this year.

Last season, Simmons averaged 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He also shot 55.7 percent from the field and 61.3 percent from the charity stripe.

His main calling card is on defense, and there’s a case to be made that he’s the best defender in the league. At 6-foot-11 and 240 pounds, Simmons can wreak havoc in the passing lanes and guard one through five. He’s already a two-time All-Defensive player and led the league in steals in 2019-20.

Minnesota was one of the worst defensive teams in the league, ranking 28th with a defensive rating of 114.5. Simmons would likely push the Wolves inside the top-20 because he’s that good on that end of the floor.

There are obvious question marks on offense, but luckily the Wolves have plenty of offensive weapons. Minnesota is also in need of a power forward, and the 25-year-old fits that bill.

These top-25 plays show what he could do for the Wolves, if not even better.

Why Philadelphia says yes:

Philadelphia is looking for players who can help them win now. Even without Simmons, the 76ers are still a threat in the Eastern Conference.

Last season, the Sixers were one of the best defensive teams in the league, ranking second behind the Los Angeles Lakers with a defensive rating of 107.0. Even if they were to lose Simmons, Philadelphia would still be a top-10 defense.

Patrick Beverley isn’t as good defensively as Simmons, but it’s not a major downgrade. He’s a great defender (3x All-Defensive) and shooter – which might be a better fit stylistically. Can you imagine the trash-talk between Embiid and Beverley if they were on the same team?

Jaden McDaniels is the centerpiece of this trade, and while he might not be an established star right now, he’s on the trajectory of becoming one. As long as Embiid can stay healthy and remains in Philadelphia, these two could be dangerous in the Eastern Conference for many years to come.

McDaniels is a future All-Defensive player and potentially a really good two-way player. The sky is the limit for the second-year player out of Washington.

Malik Beasley would love the Sixers environment. He’s a tough player and would welcome the harsh fanbase and intensity Philadelphia brings. He’d also be a great floor spacer, shooting 39.9 percent from 3 on 8.7 attempts last season.

There are some off-court issues to be cautious about, but if you’re an optimistic person, you’re making the bet that he’s learned from his mistakes. On the court, Beasley is a solid player and has an even better contract.

Minnesota’s first-round picks are attractive because the reality is they haven’t been a good team over the last 20 years.

The 76ers are planning on waiting things out, but how long can they hold out? The further this drags on, the less likely they’ll receive a package they like. This isn’t like James Harden and the Houston Rockets, but more like the Jimmy Butler saga in Minnesota. The only difference was Butler was on an expiring deal.

As long as the Wolves wait patiently, the less they’ll have to package in a trade.