[Jon Krawczynski] The Timberwolves are in a stronger position to land Ben Simmons today than they were a few weeks ago.

On his podcast he talked about Ben Simmons and other moves that the Timberwolves have to make before the season starts.

• Simmons has made it clear that he doesn't want to report to training camp. He has made this clear to the 76ers a long time ago but their reluctance to get a deal done has made him go public with that knowledge.

• There is frustration in Simmons's camp regarding the lack of progress with his trade demands and they are trying to make it clear to the 76ers that he doesn't even want to entertain the possibility of starting the season with the 76ers like Butler or Harden did.

• Jon believes he will still be on the roster when training camp begins but that he will be traded before the season starts. He believes the Timberwolves are the most likely team for him to get traded too but maybe Toronto as well. It depends on the asking price but he likes the Wolves odds of landing Simmons. But the Timberwolves are very happy that he has begun to apply pressure on the 76ers FO to get him traded.

• He believes that the Timberwolves are the team that wants Ben Simmons the most in the NBA but also that the market for Simmons is very dry and that there isn't a bidding war for Simmons that Morey hoped there would be.

• The 76ers would accept Anthony Edwards or KAT straight up for Simmons but those 2 are very much untouchable and the KAT-Embiid relationship is also one factor for that not happening.

• The main packages that exist are a D'lo package that the 76ers are lukewarm on or a Jaden McDaniels,Malik Beasley + filler + picks although Gersson Rosas is reluctant to move D'lo. He believes the 2nd offer is a lot more enticing because those picks could be used later down the line to trade for Dame or Beal, since GM's saw this year how valuable unprotected Minnesota picks are.

• He doesn't believe Dame will get traded unless the Blazers start the season horribly and he asks out like Harden did last year. But that won't be happen until some time after the season starts (if that scenario happens).

• Ultimately a trade depends on how much Embiid pushes for Simmons to be finally traded or how much Simmons shakes the boat.