Golden State Warriors reportedly eyeing Brandon Roy as he attempts return to NBA
The Golden State Warriors are interested in hiring the services of All Star forward Brandon Roy, a source close to the franchise has informed on the condition of anonymity.
The Warriors had discussions with Roy on Tuesday, and are hoping to land his services in order to further strengthen their back court. The two parties might meet again in the coming days, but no further details about a possible deal are known at the moment.
Roy was drafted sixth overall in 2006 by the Portland Trail Blazers, and was named the rookie of the year for the 2006-2007 regular season. He reached the peak of his career in the 2008/09 and the 2009/10 NBA seasons, where he averaged 22.6 and 21.5 points respectively and was named to the All Star team for three straight years from 2008 to 2010.
However, the shooting guard suffered from chronic knee problems and averaged 12.2 points in the 2010/11 NBA season where he only started 23 games. He retired from the NBA after the 2010-2011 season.
After a reported plasma treatment on his knees – one which was done on Kobe Bryant last off season, Roy is now planning to make a return to the NBA next season, and has received interest from Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors.
It is uncertain whether Roy has fully recovered from his knee injuries and if he will be able to play at the same level as his earlier years in the NBA, but such had been the pedigree of the star in his 5 years with the league, that teams are willing to take a chance.
The Warriors are trying to put in place a roster that can guarantee them a playoff berth in the next NBA season. They have a good cast in Klay Thompson, , Stephen Curry and David Lee. Lee is coming off one of his best seasons of his career and is looking to become the franchise player for the Warriors. Andrew Bogut, the number 1 overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, is also a formidable option provided he remains fit and Roy would be a welcome addition in an already strong roster on the paper.
However, the main concern for the Warriors is the health of their roster. Roy’s knee troubles aside, the Warriors have enough injury issues on their plate already.
Bogut fractured his left ankle on January 25th during a regular season game against the Milwaukee Bucks and was sidelined for the rest of the season. Curry repeatedly sprained his right ankle last season and played only 26 games for the Warriors. Lee also missed the final 8 games of the season with a torn abdominal muscle.
All players are expected to be healthy and ready for action before training camp. But the Warriors will need to keep their players healthy and away from injuries if they want to qualify for a playoff berth next season.
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