Due to the general manager Daryl Morey’s persistence in reacquiring Quentin Grimes this offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers have been left with few free agency options to solve their glaring playmaking issue should negotiations fail.
Unfortunately for Sixers fans, one player has yet to decide where he will ply his trade for the 2025-26 campaign. Former Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook would be a highly unpopular acquisition should Morey decide this is a player he wishes to invest in. However, Westbrook’s proven track record of running an offense could benefit the 76ers as they bid to secure a championship.
Westbrook can be a difference-maker in Philadelphia
Despite fighting accusations of ‘stat-padding’ for the majority of his career, ‘Mr Triple-Double’ has consistently displayed the attributes of an expert playmaker that can elevate his teammates’ performances while still affecting the game in other areas.
Even though Westbrook was primarily used as an impact bench player throughout his time in Denver, the athletic guard made an effective offensive contribution for a team that accumulated 50 wins on the year. The 36-year-old averaged 13.3 points and 6.1 assists per game while recording 27.9 minutes on the floor.
In comparison, Tyrese Maxey — who was forced into the role of the 76ers’ primary option on offense due to endless injuries — registered 26.6 points and 6.1 assists per game, an identical playmaking output even with a more prominent role in the rotation (37.7 minutes).
This could be an intriguing partnership for Philadelphia and the development of the electric Maxey. The Sixers guard dramatically improved his ability to set up his teammates during the previous campaign; nevertheless, the enhanced responsibility hindered his own performances at times. Westbrook would shoulder some of the playmaking burden that, at times, limited Maxey.
This signing is not ‘younger and more dynamic’
One thing that Morey highlighted as a priority over the offseason was to make this squad younger and more dynamic in an attempt to end the injury curse that the 76ers have had to endure for several years. The acquisition of Westbrook — in addition to retaining the services of veteran trio Andre Drummond, Kyle Lowry, and Eric Gordon — would not follow this vision.
The Philadelphia roster now has a younger and more vibrant feel. The NBA draft saw the Sixers utilize their third overall pick to select the athletic V.J. Edgcombe, as well as bolstering squad depth by adding rookie duo Hunter Sallis and Johni Broome to the ranks.
It may be tempting for the Philadelphia 76ers’ front office to turn to Russell Westbrook if the Grimes saga does not progress positively before the NBA season commences; however, the backlash from a fan base that endured a woeful 2024-25 campaign would cast an ominous cloud over the franchise before a game has even been played should this come to fruition.
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