Brandon Roy will not return to NBA; set to be amnestied – NBA Report
Portland Trail Blazers star Brandon Roy will not be making a return to the NBA after the player took the decision to retire from the game, his agent has made clear. The Portland Trail Blazers are now set to use the amnesty clause, provided in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, to get his long contract off their salary cap.
Roy became a household name after joining the Trail Blazers as he brought hope to a franchise that was marred by troubles on and off the court. He became a symbol of Portland’s resurgence and led the then Jail Blazers back to relevance in the NBA.
However, just after signing a big contract with the franchise, Roy’s injury troubles surfaced. The player has a chronic knee problem that has kept him on the sidelines for the most part of the last two NBA seasons. He has made one failed bid to recover after another and finally gave up just after the lockout ended.
According to doctors, Roy doesn’t have any more cartilage left in either of his knees, making it impossible for him to carry on playing basketball in the NBA. In fact, specialists have warned that continuing to push his body could even cost Roy the ability to walk.
Therefore, the shooting guard made the tough decision to hang up his shoes at such a young age rather than jeopardize his long term health and be a burden on the franchise he loves.
“Brandon has no intention of returning to professional basketball,” his agent, Greg Lawrence, told Yahoo! Sports. “He has been instructed by several doctors that he has a career-ending injury and needs to stop playing immediately. He has chronic problems in both knees and his long-term health is already in jeopardy. …Playing further will unquestionably have serious consequences.”
“Brandon appreciates the support of the Blazers organization and fans, and is glad they will be able to sign a player immediately who can help the team.”
Fans of the Portland Trail Blazers have joined in with the team management and players in paying tribute to a loved athlete whose career is now ending on a tragic note. Brandon made an emotional semi-return in last season’s playoffs and the passion he has for the club was visible by his antics after pulling the side to a terrific comeback win.
The Trail Blazers have said that the guard will be sorely missed. They had refused to go into contractual issues when Roy retired, out of respect for him. Now it has emerged that they will indeed use the amnesty clause on him rather than waive him under the medical provision because they would have room in the salary cap immediately rather than after a while year.
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