ESPN has reported that Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy is set to retire due to degenerative knees.
Roy has stated that he lacks cartilage in both knees, which means there is no cushion in either of his knees. He had arthroscopic knee surgery in January and came back to play a short time later. However, he averaged just 12.2 points per game, a career-low. Roy also just played in 47 contests.
The Blazers said earlier this week that they expected Roy to return to training camp on Friday.
The former All-Star has had many problems as of late with his knees and he has had a reduced role in the offense since succumbing to multiple knee injuries. Roy did not want to be released through the NBA's new amnesty clause when he would be able to sign with any team.Apparently, Roy would rather retire than sign elsewhere and that's what he's going to do within the next few days.
Roy was well-loved by the Blazers community and it is prudent that he didn't want to go anywhere else. Since the Blazers were expected to release him, it made no sense for Roy to stick around.
However, Roy's retirement would give the Blazers salary-cap space as they look to make a big free agent splash in next year's free agency class. League rules state that a team must wait one year from the date of the player's illness or injury before their contract can come off the books.
Since Roy played with the Blazers throughout their playoff run last season, his contract is set to come off the books on Apr. 28, 2012, one year to the date he last played a game. If it happens that way, the Blazers will be just in time for the 2012 free agency class, perhaps one of the biggest classes in NBA history.
According to the NBA, a league doctor will have to rule Roy unfit to play in the NBA before his contract could officially end.
On Monday, Blazers officials stated that they had not planned to use the amnesty clause on Roy. The clause allows a team to release one player and get salary-cap relief; however, the team still must pay the player's salary.
But, head coach Nate McMillan, after a meeting with Roy and his agent, said today that he expects to see Roy in training camp as his starting shooting guard.
Roy has career averages of 19 points, 4.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game, with a 46 percent field-goal percentage.
