Portland Trail Blazers: Brandon Roy Retirement Creates Questions, Brings Closure

When I got up this morning and looked at the headlines on ESPN.com, almost everything was referencing the failed trade of Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers, and how they were going to appeal the decision, and so on and so forth.  With all the recent speculation about Paul being on the move, it really wasn't a surprise to me.

Then, I saw a small headline, down near the side of the page, which read "Blazers' Roy to retire due to knees, sources say."  Admittedly, I was shocked.  

Earlier this week, I wrote about Brandon Roy, and how keeping him was a great decision for the team. Everyone, from Roy to his agent to team management, was all saying the right things: that he was healthy, that his knees were fine, that he wanted to stay and play in Portland, and that he was looking forward to a productive season.

Nate McMillan was even pondering the idea of putting him back in as a starter this year.

This kind of announcement is the type of bombshell that is harder and harder to come by in today's news cycle, because apparently no one was expecting it.

Maybe the answers will come out later today, with the official announcement from Roy, but for now there are a lot of questions unanswered.  Why the sudden change of heart?  How was this decision arrived at? Was it from Roy, or did team management play any part in his decision?  How did he go from feeling good to seeking medical retirement in the space of one week?

I'm not up on the particulars, but if he retires for medical reasons, it would appear that his contract would no longer count against the cap.  Essentially, it would have the same end result as the amnesty clause, with the exception that Roy would not be allowed to go and play for another team.  That same story on ESPN.com quotes sources as saying that Roy would even prefer this route to amnesty, given his ties to the Portland community.

All in all, it's a sad day for the Blazers and their fans.  Roy has been a warrior for the team, and a true professional.  It's tough to see the career of such a special player, and such a good person, end like this, but at least the positive feelings between Roy and the organization can be maintained.

I will miss him, and everything that he has done to help make the team relevant again.  But now, the Blazers will need to get ready for the season, and in some ways, knowing they will get nothing from Brandon is easier than wondering what kind of player he will be going forward.

If this is truly it, it marks the end of an era in Portland, one that will have as its final defining moment Roy's tremendous game against the Dallas Mavericks in last season's playoffs.  Only time will tell if the next one can be as good as the last.