In December 2011, Brandon Roy decided to retire from the NBA (or was asked to sit out by Portland) due to a degenerative knee condition. Less the a gestational period later, he has decided that the knee isn’t so bad, and he still wants to play. He had some kind of blood spinning procedure done, which sounds like a mixture of science and voodoo, and hopes to return rejuvenated and ready to pound the court.
What can Roy bring to the Timberwolves? Or more importantly, what can he bring to you? Well, back in the day, he was good for a steal, a three, 5 assists and about 20 points per game. His last season saw a tumble in his production, and then of course he sat out the following year. However, he has been training, and he had a similar procedure that gave Kobe Bryant a boost last season. It’s hard to call Roy a sleeper because everyone knows he’s returning, and the sporting press have been all over this “feel good story” more than if Tim Duncan rescued a kitten from a tree. In fact, I would only call this a sleeper because it’s a gamble. If the health of the knee buckles during the year, you’re not getting much of anything. However, if he can stay healthy and limber, you can get some pretty nice value.
It depends where Roy falls to determine if I take him. Frankly, degenerative joint problems are not something that can be cured, in my non-medical opinion. If we were to ask Dr. Patella Tendon, he would tell us that Roy’s cartilage will continue to be worn away by the repetitive motions of running and jumping, which will lead to increased pain and reduced movement.
There are so many variables and my projections are already dreamed up while on peyote, but I think I’ll give him the projected line of this: .445 fg/.798 ft/1.0 3pt/15.6 pts/3.2 rbd/4.4 ast/0.7 stl/0.1 blk/2.4 tov. I’m willing to bet he is a little slower than he used to be and Minnesota may reduce his minutes to try and keep him fresh throughout the season. I wouldn’t take him in the first 10 rounds, but after that, I’m all in for grabbing potential upside despite the considerable risk.
