Timberwolves, Spurs Continue To Be Linked To Ben Simmons

The Timberwolves are among the teams that remain strongly interested in a trade with the 76ers for star guard/forward Ben Simmons, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.

That said, there is an “overwhelming sense” that Simmons could still be with the Sixers once training camp begins in late September, Fischer noted.

While the Warriors, Trail Blazers and Spurs are among others believed to have Simmons on their radar, only the Spurs seem to be currently interested in pursuing a possible deal.

Per Fischer, a faction of the Spurs’ front office is high on the potential Simmons trade. Prior to last month’s NBA Draft, the the Spurs were open to discuss Dejounte Murray and Lonnie Walker as centerpieces in a deal centered on Simmons, Fischer reported.

Meanwhile, there is still talk that the 76ers have a strong interest in Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, though such a deal would not be easy to pull off.

That may be where the Timberwolves could come in, per Fischer, “who notes that if Philadelphia makes a non-Lillard deal involving Simmons, the team may try to get pieces that could eventually be flipped to the Trail Blazers for the star guard,” wrote Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors.

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