NBA Scouts Hit Russell Westbrook and Ben Simmons With Reality Check Amid Uncertain Future

The NBA offseason is supposed to be about fresh hope, complete with big signings, bold trades, and new beginnings. Yet as the offseason drags on, one headline feels stranger than all the rest: Russell Westbrook and Ben Simmons remain unsigned. Two former All-Stars who once commanded the spotlight are now hovering in limbo, reduced to waiting games that no one expected to last this long.

For Westbrook, it’s a surreal twist. A former MVP, a man who averaged a triple-double for entire seasons. For Simmons, it’s no less confusing, either. A former No. 1 overall pick, once labeled the future of a franchise. Yet here they are, facing the same uncomfortable truth that teams aren’t exactly rushing to call.

“I like both players, and I think they could help us,” one NBA scout told Hoops Wire, as reported by Sam Amico. “But honestly, no longer on anything more than minimum salaries. They’re limited in what they can do nowadays.” That’s the sting.

It’s not that Westbrook and Simmons can’t play. It’s that the league sees their best days as gone, and their games frozen in time. And time doesn’t play favorites. As another scout told Hoops Wire: “Look, this isn’t 2017 or 2019 anymore. If Westbrook goes unsigned, or Simmons, it’s not that big of a deal. You can find younger guys like them for cheaper.”

Think about that. Russell Westbrook, once the heartbeat of OKC, could go unsigned. Ben Simmons, once compared to LeBron, is now grouped with “younger guys for cheaper.” That’s a reality check that hits harder than any box score. But as long as we are discussing the box scores, let’s take a look at the numbers, too.

Russ averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds across 75 games with the Denver Nuggets in 2024–25, despite playing through two fractured bones in his right hand, which, ironically, is a testament to his toughness and adaptability. He may no longer command MVP-level production, but his numbers remain solid for a rotational guard trying to stick in the league’s strengthening roles.

Meanwhile, Simmons wrapped the 2024–25 season with the Clippers, putting up modest numbers: 5.0 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds in 22 minutes per game over 51 appearances. His familiar blend of passing and defense stayed intact, even if the scoring punch has faded, and availability continues to be an issue.

Yet the market has spoken. Teams weigh production against cost, and the math isn’t adding up. What happens next, though? Well, the story is far from over. Come back here to find out!

(This is a developing story…)

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