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Russell Westbrook’s NBA future suddenly looks much more uncertain than people thought. Jake Fischer recently mentioned he hasn’t heard anything suggesting the Kings want him back in any way, even after he started 58 games and stayed one of their most productive guards last season.
The Heat seemed like his best alternative early in free agency, but that option also depends on LeBron James. Stefan Bondy of the New York Post reported that Westbrook is only a candidate for Miami if LeBron signs somewhere else. It looks like the Heat doesn’t want to reunite them, especially after the bad ending they had together during their time with the Lakers.
Westbrook isn’t the only familiar name still waiting for a deal. The league keeps getting younger, cheaper, and more focused on shooting, defense, health, and positional flexibility. A big name doesn’t guarantee a roster spot anymore, especially when teams can use the same minimum contract on a younger player who might still improve.
Some of these veterans will probably get contracts before training camp, while others might have to wait for an injury or accept a non-guaranteed deal. Here are five of the biggest names facing a real chance that their NBA careers could already be finished.
5. Kevin Love
Starting with number 5, Kevin Love can still help a team in short stretches, but his market depends on finding a very specific situation. The 37-year-old averaged 6.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 16.6 minutes across 37 appearances for the Jazz last season. He shot only 39.7% from the field, although his 37.3% from three showed that the jumper hasn’t completely disappeared.
Love still provides rebounding, outlet passing, and floor spacing from the center position. Those skills can work around athletic defenders who cover for his lack of speed, but he can’t protect the rim, switch onto guards, or play heavy minutes anymore. The Jazz had a 122.5 defensive rating during his minutes, and his overall net rating was minus-6.7. Those numbers came on a bad team, but they still show why contenders might hesitate to use a roster spot on him.
There has been some chatter that Love could follow LeBron back to the Heat if that reunion happens. That would make sense because Love already understands Erik Spoelstra’s system and wouldn’t need a major role behind players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, and Bobby Portis. Still, that possible deal appears connected more to LeBron and their relationship than to a strong independent market for Love.
I still think Love gets one final contract if LeBron chooses the Heat or another contender decides it needs locker-room leadership. If that specific opportunity never appears, teams could easily prefer a younger center who can defend and survive an 82-game season. Love has already played 18 years, won a championship, earned five All-Star selections, and made more than $277 million. Walking away wouldn’t be shocking at this point.
4. Lonzo Ball
Next at number 4 is Lonzo Ball, who is easily the saddest name on this list because his basketball ability has never been the main problem. A healthy Ball can pass, defend, rebound, push the pace, and hit catch-and-shoot threes. His knees simply haven’t allowed him to remain that player for multiple years now.
Ball appeared in 35 games for the Cavaliers last season and averaged career lows of 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 20.8 minutes. He shot only 27.2% from three and finished with a 43.2% true shooting percentage, which made it very difficult to keep him in a regular offensive role.
The Cavaliers eventually attached two second-round picks to send Ball to the Jazz before the trade deadline, and the Jazz waived him one day later. Cleveland wanted to remove his salary and open space below the second apron after adding Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, while Utah never planned to keep him.
Ball is only 28, so it feels strange to discuss him like an aging veteran near retirement. The issue is that he missed more than two full seasons after multiple knee procedures and then couldn’t rediscover his shooting or movement consistently. He has already done something incredible just by returning to an NBA floor, but teams now have to judge what he is today instead of remembering how good he looked with the Bulls before the injuries.
A minimum contract should still be possible because his passing and defensive instincts haven’t disappeared. The Wizards, Hornets, and Warriors were reportedly interested after Utah waived him, but he remains unsigned months later. That silence says everything about how worried teams are about his body.
3. Seth Curry
At number 3 we have Seth Curry, who remains one of the best pure shooters available, and his percentages definitely aren’t the reason he could be finished. Curry averaged 7.1 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists while shooting 49.0% from the field, 48.0% from three, and 91.7% from the free-throw line last season.
The problem is that those numbers came across only 10 games. Curry dealt with sciatica and other back problems for most of the season, and the Warriors rarely had a chance to use him beside Stephen Curry. He played only 133 total minutes and appeared for one minute during Golden State’s Play-In loss.
Seth Curry will turn 36 before the season and has always been a limited defender. A team signing him knows it needs to protect him on that end and probably can’t rely on him for more than 10 to 15 minutes. That is fine when he is healthy and making almost half of his threes, but it becomes difficult to justify when he can’t stay available.
I would still give him a minimum deal before many other guards because shooting remains the most valuable role skill in the league. He has a career 43.3% three-point percentage and doesn’t need the ball to contribute. Still, rosters are nearly full, the Warriors already have younger guards, and no other team has been seriously linked to him. Curry might need to accept a training-camp deal or wait until the regular season instead of receiving a guaranteed spot immediately.
2. Bradley Beal
Number 2 is Bradley Beal, who is different from the first three players because he already has some level of interest. Jake Fischer reported that the Celtics and Heat are potential landing spots, while the Clippers could also remain involved. Both Eastern Conference teams might wait for LeBron’s decision before committing their remaining flexibility to Beal.
Beal created this situation himself by declining a $5.6 million player option. That decision suggests he believes a better role, a longer contract, or both will become available. The problem is that teams barely saw him last season after he suffered a left hip fracture and underwent season-ending surgery in November.
He played only six games for the Clippers and posted 8.2 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 20.2 minutes while shooting 37.5% from the field and 36.8% from three. Beal also hasn’t reached 60 games in a season since 2020-21. He remains a talented scorer, but his reputation is now much more prominent than his recent production or availability.
The Celtics could use another ball-handler and bench scorer after their roster overhaul, while the Heat might need more perimeter creation depending on what happens with LeBron. Beal can still attack closeouts, run pick-and-rolls, and make difficult mid-range shots when healthy. The question is whether “when healthy” has become too large of a condition.
I expect Beal to sign somewhere because the reported interest is there, but he isn’t guaranteed a major contract or starting role. If his camp wants multiple years or more than the minimum, teams might simply move toward healthier free agents. A player who has appeared in only six games over the last 14 months can’t negotiate like the 30-point scorer he was five years ago.
1. Russell Westbrook
Finally, at number 1 is Russell Westbrook. As we already mentioned, the Kings aren’t expected to bring him back. That is pretty concerning because Sacramento gave him a real opportunity last season, finished only 22-60, and still apparently decided they would rather move forward without him. A rebuilding team with almost nothing to lose doesn’t even see a clear reason to keep him.
Westbrook’s traditional stats still look respectable. He averaged 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.3 steals across 64 games, shooting 42.7% from the field and 33.8% from three. He started 58 times and continued creating pressure at the rim, pushing the ball, and filling the box score.
The advanced numbers explain why the market remains cold. The Kings posted a 110.0 offensive rating and 122.1 defensive rating with Westbrook on the floor, producing a brutal minus-12.1 net rating. His 50.3% effective field-goal percentage and 52.8% true shooting percentage were both weak, while he committed 3.3 turnovers per game and shot only 69.4% from the free-throw line.
Westbrook still plays with more energy than almost anybody, but his style is extremely difficult to fit into a secondary role. He needs the ball to create value, isn’t an effective spacer, makes risky decisions, and can lose focus defensively. Teams looking for a backup point guard normally want someone who protects the ball and supports the starters, not another high-usage player who changes the entire offense.
The Wizards showed some level of interest earlier in free agency, and the Heat remain possible if LeBron chooses another team, though they look like the favorite one right now. Washington is rebuilding and might prefer younger guards, while Miami clearly views Westbrook as a fallback option rather than a priority.
Westbrook wants to remain in the NBA instead of considering an overseas move, but the league isn’t obligated to create a role for him. He has already played for seven different teams over the last seven seasons and signed consecutive minimum contracts. At 37, his name and career achievements can’t hide the fit problems anymore.
I still believe he can help a bad team that needs creation or a contender dealing with injuries, but he has to accept what his market is saying. Westbrook isn’t a starter anymore and can’t expect an offense to revolve around him. Unless he accepts a smaller role with fewer shots and more accountability, this might really be the end of one of the most unique careers in NBA history.
