NBA Rumors: Potential Brandon Roy Comeback Should Excite Potential Playoff Teams

Brandon Roy may not be finished after all.

The recently retired shooting guard was forced to hang up the laces this offseason due to multiple knee surgeries in his five-year NBA career.

Yet after watching the NBA pass him by while he sits at home, the itch to play has returned. In a recent interview with US Basket, Roy dropped a third-person reference to update us all on his status:

"

It’s hard being away from the game. Don’t be surprised if you see Brandon Roy make his way back to the court. If the treatment I’ve been looking into can work, I believe there’s a good chance you will see Brandon Roy back hoopin’.

"

He went on to say that his injuries weren’t the sole reason for his abrupt retirement at the age of 27: "There’s something to it, but it’s not the right time for me to get into it right now."

While the exact status of his knee is currently unknown, he retired because the cartilage wasn’t growing back after so many procedures.

If healthy enough to provide 20 minutes a night off the bench, there should be no shortage of playoff-bound teams lining up for his services.

Roy is a three-time All-Star, a Rookie of the Year award winner and averaged over 19 points three times in his career. The memories of his incredible 18-point fourth quarter—capped by by his game-winning shot to beat the Dallas Mavericks in last year’s playoffs—are still there.

This came after only registering six minutes in Game 2, which resulted in a breakdown in the postgame press conference. The guy clearly has a burning passion for the game, which is so important to have come playoff time.

Roy re-tooled his game to become an efficient, mid-range jump shooter and prolific passer. He still has the brain of an All-Star and knows how to score without speed. He will obviously be given a veteran's minimum deal that is medically insured. The risk is incredibly minimal. If he can't last, then he'll cut with only a minimal financial loss. 

With his experience and clear desire to prove his doubters wrong, Roy is hungry. Who wants him?

Two teams that standout are the Mavericks and Miami Heat. Both need shooters that don’t necessarily create their own shot. Both could use Roy and his career shooting percentage of 46. They both have rosters near the salary cap, so Roy is a realistic option instead of adding any significant money to the payroll.

It’s exciting news for NBA fans and for teams in the playoff hunt. Hopefully Roy’s knees can hold up for at least one last shot at playoff glory.

This would make for one heck of a comeback story.