According to Hoops Wire reporter Sam Amico, an article about free agents Russell Westbrook and Ben Simmons, he said that both hope to get a contract that is higher than the veteran's basic salary.
An NBA scout revealed to Amico: "I appreciate these two players, they can still contribute on the court. But to be honest, they are only worthy of the basic salary contract now, and their abilities are already very limited." Obviously, Simmons and Westbrook both want to get a quote above the veteran's basic salary, which makes them unattended in the free market before training camp begins.
Another scout said: "It's not 2017 or 2019 anymore. Even if Westbrook or Simmons can't find a next home, it's no big deal. You can find a younger replacement than them at a lower price. It has nothing to do with personal grudges, but time is unforgiving. What's more, Simmons has some major technical flaws that can never be improved, so why not give others a chance? "
Last season, Westbrook played 75 games in the regular season, averaging 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game, with shooting percentages of 44.9%, 32.3%, and 66.1% in the three events; in the playoffs, he played in 13 games, averaging 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, and the shooting percentages of the three events were 39.1%, 31.7%, and 70% respectively.
Last season, Ben Simmons played 51 regular season games for the Nets and the Clippers, starting in 24 games, averaging 22 minutes per game, scoring 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, shooting percentage of 52.0% and free throw percentage of 72.7%.