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4 three-team NBA trades involving Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris

By Corey Rausch

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 23: Ben Simmons #25 and Tobias Harris #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrate during the game against the Boston Celtics at Wells Fargo Center on October 23, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers won 107-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 23: Ben Simmons #25 and Tobias Harris #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrate during the game against the Boston Celtics at Wells Fargo Center on October 23, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers won 107-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /
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4 three-team NBA trades involving Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris
HOUSTON, TX – JANUARY 09: D’Angelo Russell #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on after a call during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on January 9, 2022 in Houston, Texas, 4 three-team NBA trades involving Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images) /

4 three-team NBA trades involving Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris: Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves

This trade is a little more simplified. Atlanta comes away with Ben Simmons and the Sixers land John Collins and Cam Reddish. To finish out moving both, Tobias Harris is shipped to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for D’Angelo Russell.

Russell is someone who has been brought up on occasion as someone the Sixers have been interested in bringing in, and the defensive leap he has taken this season should not change that.

He is a smart passer and solid scorer who would fit in nicely in Philadelphia, allowing them to further diversify their offensive game plan.

To be completely clear, this trade does not make sense for the Minnesota Timberwolves unless some amount of draft compensation comes their way. Russell has been an essential part of their progression this season and leaving them without a starting point guard would hurt for the stretch run.

Of all the trades on this list, this is the hardest to justify if a team is solely worried about making the playoffs this season.

However, with the right amount of picks (and a little luck in the buyout market) this could work out well for the Timberwolves in years to come. Adding draft assets will help them to continue to build around Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards.

They are firmly in the play-in mix, with a five-game lead over the current 11 seed. Perhaps it is worth taking the longer view.