{"id":156356,"date":"2025-08-25T12:24:21","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T16:24:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=156356"},"modified":"2025-08-25T12:24:21","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T16:24:21","slug":"ben-simmons-is-better-for-kings-russell-westbrook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/08\/25\/ben-simmons-is-better-for-kings-russell-westbrook\/","title":{"rendered":"Ben Simmons Is Better For Kings Anyways"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are a number of problems with the Sacramento Kings endeavor to sign Russell Westbrook<\/a> this offseason. None of them are that he’s proven difficult to attain<\/a>, as the basketball gods seem to be looking out for them.<\/p>\n

Ben Simmons Is Better For Kings Than Russell Westbrook<\/h2>\n

The primary issue with the Kings efforts to onboard Westbrook is that he has exited his prime. This goes past the surface. As he’s no longer counted upon as a top-three scoring option, his weaknesses are more pronounced.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, from 2010-11 to 2019-20, which bracketed Westbrook’s nine All-Star seasons, he averaged 25.0 points per game. With that type of production, the fact that he was shooting 30.9 percent from 3 wasn’t a deal-breaker. However, he’s averaged 16.1 points since then, a byproduct of his diminishing explosiveness and being demoted in the pecking order. In this stretch, he’s made just 30.7 percent of his 3s.<\/p>\n

Unable to escape Father Time, the 2017 NBA MVP is no longer a V12 engine. He’s more along the lines of an old school hot rod; a V8. In the right situation, that can be overlooked. This ain’t that<\/em>, as they say.<\/p>\n

No Man’s Land<\/h3>\n

Westbrook’s still quick enough to do damage with the right spacing. Keep in mind that the Kings have multiple stretch-centers, including dribble-handoff master Domantas Sabonis<\/a> and rookie Maxime Raynaud<\/a>. Both can help cancel out Westbrook’s weakness while underscoring his strengths because they can draw out big men out of the paint.<\/p>\n

Upon closer inspection though, inserting Westbrook in a starting lineup with Sabonis, Zach LaVine<\/a>, and DeMar DeRozan<\/a> isn’t practical because they’ll be stacking four below-average perimeter defenders together. A toddler might be able to penetrate the lane with them standing sentinel.<\/p>\n

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Mar 1, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) talks with guard Zach LaVine (8) during a timeout against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the second unit, he’s likely to be the first player off the bench behind Dennis Schroder<\/a> and would often be paired with Malik Monk<\/a>. That’s a point of concern for the backcourt defense, especially now that they’ve decided to keep the scintillating sixth man<\/a>. Additionally, due to Raynaud’s inexperience and relative lack of lateral agility, their pick-and-roll defense may not be up to scratch.<\/p>\n

Of course, Sacramento could opt to use Westbrook as a roamer, a role that he’s performed well in. Still, their lack of the top-end point-of-attack defenders to put around him dampens the impact he could make. That being said, the Kings only have two rotation players proven to be above-average defenders: Keegan Murray<\/a> and Keon Ellis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So where exactly does the UCLA fit?<\/p>\n

Wasted Resources<\/h3>\n

Another problem with inserting Westbrook in the rotation is that it will all but ensure Devin Carter<\/a> and Nique Clifford<\/a> will be out of it.<\/p>\n

That isn’t to say that either Carter or Clifford are flat-out better than Westbrook, even in the twilight of his career. However, it would be a waste of resources, as Carter and Clifford were both first-round picks. In fact, Carter was a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Meanwhile, Clifford is considered to be a player who can help elevate<\/a> the Kings in a tangible way as a rookie.<\/p>\n

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Shooting, defense, and length. No, Kings fans, you\u2019re not dreaming. This regime understands where the league is going.<\/p>\n

Nique Clifford is the model. pic.twitter.com\/4cr5ATujrL<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Allen Stiles (@The_StilesFiles) June 26, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n