Ben Simmons rumors: Latest word on Tyrese Maxey, Kings, Warriors, Timberwolves

The Ben Simmons trade "speculation" — if we can even call it that anymore — reached a new peak on Tuesday afternoon when it was reported that the 25-year-old himself openly shared his thoughts with Josh Harris, Daryl Morey, Elton Brand and Doc Rivers.

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Report: Ben Simmons has told 76ers he no longer wants to be on team, will not report to camp

In Keith Pompey's report, an anonymous Western Conference executive said that Simmons wants to play for three California teams, though which exact teams were not specified. We've also heard about the Portland Trail Blazers and the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Toronto Raptors. And, if you're Chris Broussard, you've been told that he'll play literally anywhere... so long as it's not the City of Brotherly Love.

This can all be a lot to take in, so let's look at some more specific reports, relating to specific teams and players, from what has been a chaotic past 24 hours.

It's fair to say that a significant majority of 76ers fans is ready, more than ready, to part ways with Ben Simmons. It's also fair to say that a significant majority of 76ers fans would really, really prefer to hold on to Tyrese Maxey and allow him to become the potential point guard of the future.

But based on a report from Philly's own Jason Dumas, getting both wishes may not be realistic.

Dumas also mentions that there were organizations in Philadelphia that wanted to partner with Maxey on a number of community events, but that those organizations were "told to cancel those plans" because Paul doesn't want Maxey to "grow roots in Philly" in the event that he's part of a trade.

If Maxey does want to stay here, it seems rather brash for Paul to force his young client out of the area. And it wouldn't be all that surprising if Maxey did want to stay in Philly, seeing as he'd foreseeably have a large role — even if the Sixers were somehow able to get a Damian Lillard or De'Aaron Fox-type player in return for Simmons — on a playoff team, in front of a fan base that has quickly grown to love him.

UPDATE
It appears that Dumas got new intel on Maxey's situation, walking back his earlier report.

Speaking of De'Aaron Fox, Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee reports that he is one of the two players that the Sixers would need in a deal involving Simmons.

"As for Sacramento, sources have suggested the 76ers would only be willing to consider an offer that includes De'Aaron Fox or Tyrese Haliburton," Anderson writes. "The Kings are unlikely to part with either player..."

This doesn't come as a surprise at all, especially if you've been paying attention to the other reported deals that Morey has offered and that have subsequently been rejected. He's asking for a lot, and a package involving players like Buddy Hield and Marvin Bagley just wouldn't quite seem to move the needle.

However, it's fair to wonder if Simmons' value is at a high enough level to realistically ask for much more than that. It's unfortunate, but Hield, Bagley and some future picks might not look all that bad, especially now that the relationship between the 76ers and Simmons has soured to this point. Just think about that Sixers-Timberwolves trade involving Jimmy Butler.

According to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area, the Warriors' interest in a trade involving Simmons is "conditional" and that the front office isn't all that intrigued so long as they still have Draymond Green. They're both versatile defenders and great passers with size, and they both come with inevitable shooting problems. Do two of those guys fit on the same roster? Some will say yes, and some — most? — will say no.

That's the case with the Warriors, says Poole, who "are divided on the subject." Would they get rid of Green? Could the two coexist and build a powerhouse in the West, whether that means staggering their minutes or devising a system that optimizes their fit alongside the Splash Bros? Is a three-team deal in order?

Simmons' fit with the Timberwolves alongside Karl-Anthony Towns leaves us, once again, with the issue of what the Sixers would be able to get in return to make the deal worth it. The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski believes that Minnesota's recent inactivity in the trade market "all seemingly points" to Simmons, though he also acknowledges the issues at hand:

As of right now, the Timberwolves do not have a trade package that offers Morey the win-now assets a team in championship mode wants. They are not going to put Karl-Anthony Towns into any type of multi-team deal to try to get the wheels moving and Anthony Edwards remains untouchable as well. Even if the Wolves did include D’Angelo Russell in an offer — and they have talked all summer about building a team with Towns, Edwards and Russell around Simmons — it would not appear to be the magic bullet move that Morey needs to part ways with one of the best defensive players in the league … yet.

Krawczynski said that he is under the impression that the most active attempts to make a deal involving Simmons were coming from Minnesota's front office, though, so there's definitely some fuel there.

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