Blazers might let Brandon Roy go
Sad and disappointing news is coming out of Portland late tonight that reports are coming in saying the Blazers are ready to let guard Brandon Roy go due to the new CBA cap rule. The 2006 Rookie of the Year, who has been the cornerstone and face of the franchise has been dealing with bum knees the past two seasons and currently has the biggest contract with the Blazers. Should in fact Portland cut him, we will have a seven man roster and enough cap space to look for other shooting guards/small forwards. I guarantee that the moment Roy is free on the market he will get instant interest, even with no cartilage in either knees.
“John Canzano of The Oregonian reports that Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen and his adviser Bert Kolde are expected to use the Amnesty Clause on guard Brandon Roy.
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“Brandon’s out,” a league executive told me Monday. “Don’t know the exact details, but everyone around the league knows it’s way, way done. Paul and Bert (Kolde) are calling the shots on this one.”
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I join the faction of Blazers front-office employees who believe Allen should take a longer look at Roy before making any move regarding his future. And so here’s hoping Allen will reconsider.
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Update: Katy Brown of KATU.com has a similar report…
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The Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly planning to part ways with Brandon Roy. An NBA league source told KATU’s Katy Brown that Roy has likely played his last game in a Blazers uniform and the word is out around the league that Roy will soon be on the market. The team plans to waive Roy under the “amnesty clause” that is part of the new NBA labor agreement, which is expected to be passed later this week.
A league executive from another NBA team told Brown the decision came straight from Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen.
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Could Roy be on his way out of Portland? Hope not.
Thanks to TorridJoe in the FanShots for that link.
Update: Jason Quick of The Oregonian plays good cop to the bad cop reports.
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Blazers guard Brandon Roy has been working out mornings at UW with other NBA players and has reported no setbacks w/knees. Why would GM from another team say he knows the Blazers’ plans on Roy? Probably b/c it’s the same GM who has long tried to sabotage the team. I’m not buying that the Blazers have already made a decision on Roy. It may end up being the wise business move, but why not take a look?
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Marc Stein of ESPN.com kicked off this most recent, intensifying round of Amnesty Clause chatter last night.
A few notes: If Roy is waived, Portland would be left with seven players on the roster — including Earl Barron — who have played more than 82 NBA games.
Their projected bench rotation would be: Nicolas Batum, whoever they sign with the Mid-Level Exception, Nolan Smith, Chris Johnson and… stop me when this gets too painful.
Update: It’s worth mentioning that waiving Roy would take the Blazers out of the luxury tax line and, under the new rules, would allow them to use a full $5 million Mid-Level Exception rather than a $3 million mini-Mid-Level that’s available to taxpaying teams.
Some of the free agent big men available who might be available for all or part of a Mid-Level: Carl Landry, Kwame Brown, Glen Davis, Chuck Hayes, Spencer Hawes, Reggie Evans, Craig Smith, Josh McRoberts.
Some free two guards who might be available for all or part of a Mid-Level Exception: Jamal Crawford (maybe), J.J. Barea, Marcus Thornton, Arron Afflalo, Nick Young and Marco Belinelli.”
information and links courtesy of blazersedge.com
photo courtesy of basketball.wikia.com/wiki/Brandon_Roy
Nicholas Filipas