Ben Simmons, Top NBA Free Agents for Kevin Durant's Rockets amid Fred VanVleet Injury
The Houston Rockets appeared on their way to a big 2025-26 campaign after a productive offseason saw them land star forward Kevin Durant.
Now, the Rockets have been dealt a serious blow.
Per ESPN's Shams Charania, Rockets' point guard Fred VanVleet has suffered a torn ACL that could sideline him for the entire season.
With VanVleet looking at a serious recovery timeline, Houston will likely want to add another point guard to the roster. That said, ESPN's Bobby Marks noted the Rockets would need to make a trade before they would be able to sign a free agent:
Here are a few free agent options, if the team is able to find a way to make a deal happen:
- Ben Simmons
- Quentin Grimes
- Russell Westbrook
Ben Simmons
1 of 3
Ben Simmons was once one of the most promising young players in the league who appeared on his way to having an outstanding career.
Things, unfortunately, haven't panned out the way they were expected to, as injuries and other issues got in the way for the No. 1 overall pick. The 29-year-old is now hoping to stay relevant in the league, and the Rockets' point guard vacancy could give him the chance to do so.
Simmons is far from the player he once was, as he averaged just 5.0 points, 5.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game in 51 contests last year. While he's not going to be a double-digit scorer, he's still a talented playmaker, and that's what Houston needs now that it has one of the best scorers in the NBA with Durant.
Quentin Grimes
2 of 3
Quentin Grimes is coming off a breakout season that saw him average 21.9 points per game after being traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Assuming that wasn't just a fluke for Grimes, he could be a solid fill-in for VanVleet at a somewhat affordable price.
The main issue the Rockets would run into is the fact that he's a restricted free agent, meaning the 76ers have the chance to match whatever offers he receives. However, the offseason is almost over and Grimes still hasn't re-signed with Philadelphia, so he might be looking for a change of scenery.
Russell Westbrook
3 of 3
Russell Westbrook had a hard time finding his role in the NBA once he lost his status as a perennial MVP candidate, but he's now emerged as a strong player off the bench.
Last season with the Denver Nuggets, he put up 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game, mostly coming off the bench.
The Rockets could bring Westbrook back to Houston and either grant him the starting job or allow Reed Sheppard to assume that role while having a reliable backup.
Not to mention, signing with the Rockets would give Westbrook and Durant another chance to go for a championship.
