Timberwolves ‘Persistent’ In Pursuit Of Ben Simmons

The Timberwolves remain active in trying to figure out trade scenarios that might land them 76ers star guard/forward Ben Simmons, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.Ben Simmons” width=”300″ height=”169″>

“Philadelphia has continued to try to see if they can find a deal for Simmons before the start of camp,” Wojnarowski said on ESPN’s Get Up. “They have not had success, you know, really getting any traction for the high asking price they’re asking for for Ben Simmons.

“Minnesota is one team that’s been persistent with Philadelphia, but they’ve needed to have, really, third and even fourth teams in those kinds of deals to get back to Philly what it would want.

Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report also relayed the Timberwolves’ strong interest in Simmons earlier this week, mentioning the Spurs and Trail Blazers among the others who may pursue a deal.

Wojnarowski, however, made it seem as if nothing is yet close.

“I think for the Sixers, if they’re going to trade Ben Simmons, they’ve got to get back players right now who continue on that Joel Embiid timeline of having an MVP-level player in his prime, that you’re trying to win championships with, and that’s a hard package to get back for Ben Simmons right now,” Wojnarowski said. “There’s a very distinct possibility he’s going to have to come back to training camp with them next season.”

The Kings, Raptors, Wizards, Pacers, Cavaliers and Thunder are among the other teams that have been linked to Simmons, though it appears that the interest for those teams has cooled since the draft.

Simmons, 25, is coming off a subpar playoff showing, with the 76ers losing to the Hawks in the second round of the playoffs. Simmons either refused to shoot or shot poorly late in games, finishing a historically bad 34 percent on free throws.

Still, at 6-foot-10 he is an accomplished passer and defender on the wing, averaging 14.9 points and 6.9 assists this past season. He finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season — and for all the grief he takes about his jumper, he is a career 56 percent shooter.

Per Wojnarowski, the 76ers and agent Rich Paul have been in regular contact about the possibility of a Simmons trade since the NBA Combine in late May.

The Timberwolves agreed to a trade earlier this week that sent shooting guard Jarrett Culver and forward Juan Hernangomez to the Grizzlies for veteran point guard Patrick Beverley.