NBA Rumors: Brandon Roy Would Remedy the Lakers' Guard Woes

With ESPN's Chris Palmer reporting that retired former Portland Trail Blazers star Brandon Roy may be contemplating a return to the court, many teams have surfaced as possible landing spots.

None has been more talked about than the Los Angeles Lakers.

Roy retired from the NBA before the lockout-shortened 2012 season because of knee injuries that have cost him dozens of games over his short NBA career. At 27 years old and still playing the game recreationally, a return is almost imminent at this point.

Just getting back into the NBA would be enough for most stars, but Roy will want to win.

If he can join a Lakers team that needs some depth at small forward and a viable guard to relieve Bryant or play the point when needed, the Lakers will have a big season in 2013.

Roy told News Channel 8 Portland about his retirement routine and how a return isn’t out of the realm of possibility:

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In the back of my mind, maybe this is something I may do again. But who knows? It’s something right now where I’m enjoying playing and not playing with the pain I had last year after going through two knee surgeries. I was never the fastest or the highest leaper but being smart — those are all little things I have up my sleeve if I do decide to play, those are all positives I do have going for me.

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As great as Roy will be for the locker room in LA and as a viable backup option for Kobe, he will be the kind of player the team can get on the court in key moments to contribute at both ends of the floor.

To be honest, I would rather have Roy start over either Devin Ebanks at small forward or Ramon Sessions at point guard. While neither position is where Roy is most comfortable, he would outperform either Ebanks or Sessions, hands down.

While Los Angeles would have to be very careful with Roy’s health and his minutes, allowing him to become the team’s sixth man in the same mold as OKC’s James Harden would allow him to contribute while still spreading the talent out.

If LA could land Roy and keep him healthy, they would be a serious threat in the West.

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