Rumors

Mayor Harrell and Knox, the CEO of the Seattle Sports Commission, are envisioning a future where Sonics players become role models and inspire youth to not only participate in basketball, but dream. Seattle has a long history of producing NBA talent, including Brandon Roy, Jason Terry, Jamal Crawford, Paolo Banchero and Dejounte Murray. Barry thinks the Sonics can help inspire others. “How do you dream bigger if you don’t see it in front of you?” Barry asked. “I was thinking if I never went to Golden State games as a kid to watch Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond, how much of my devotion and love of the game would have been depleted by not having the touch, the autograph, the memories? The impact can’t be overstated. “There’s almost 20 years of kids in Seattle who never saw one game in their city of LeBron James, one of the greatest players who ever played. Twenty years of kids, and parents for that matter, who haven’t had that community, that environment, that experience. It hurts.”

New York Times

The support was there from a who's who of Seattle hoops legends. From former Sonics players like Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Detlef Schrempf, Rashard Lewis, Fred Brown, Lenny Wilkens, Dale Ellis, Sam Perkins, and George Karl to Seattle-area hoops legends Jamal Crawford, Isaiah Thomas and Brandon Roy. Think about the numbers alone---and the caliber of those players and the message they're sending.

KOMO

Clutch Points: "He had that hall of fame talent. I just hate that the world couldn't see him at that Kevin Durant level." Brandon Roy speaks on former Blazers teammate and No.1 draft pick Greg Oden. (via notyouraverage_nba/TT , H/T @503Blazerfans) pic.twitter.com/oPKuJmpmDH

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Sean Highkin: Brandon Roy is here sitting courtside pic.twitter.com/Cs2CCQtNUV

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Clutch Points: "He's got shades of off the bounce stuff like Jamal Crawford. He's got the scoring ability like Brandon Roy...He's scary NOW." Paul George on Cam Thomas. (via @PodcastPShow) pic.twitter.com/gmeqXQz0mI

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Michael Singer: MPJ said he’s heard a lot from Trae Young (who was at Game 4 in Los Angeles) and his former HS coach Brandon Roy. Said Roy’s called him and only offered criticisms. Mike had a big smile on his face while answering.

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NBA Communications: The 2023 NBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm will be held tomorrow night in Chicago. Below is the list of team representatives who will be on stage ⬇️

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Ever since Brandon Roy’s sudden departure from the Trail Blazers in 2011 at age 26 because of degenerative knee issues, and his subsequent retirement in 2013 after a brief comeback with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Roy had intentionally distanced himself from the Blazers. There were no hard feelings, no issues, no disagreements. There was just too much pain, too much frustration, too many “why me” moments involved in processing his forced retirement.

The Athletic

“There’s never been a moment when I felt I couldn’t reach out to the Blazers and be a part of the organization. Never,’’ Roy told The Athletic. “I just wanted to stay away from basketball, or from even hearing my name. It was just hard not being able to play … and I was only 28, 29 years old. So, I just stayed away.’’

The Athletic

Roy said Joe Cronin has made it clear that the Blazers would be open to discussing a role in the organization at any time, but Roy said he told Cronin those conversations will have to wait at least two years away. His oldest son, Brandon Jr., will be a junior at Garfield High School, where Roy serves as head coach and has won three state titles. “Down the road, I could see myself (joining the Blazers) and Joe and I have had those conversations,’’ Roy said. “He’s always saying ‘You know you are welcome to be a part here … we can talk about anything.’ He’s been great. But I told him, at this point, Brandon Jr. will be a junior and it’s a big thing for me and him that I coach him when it’s the right time.

The Athletic

Former Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard Brandon Roy will represent the franchise at next week’s NBA draft lottery in Chicago, the team will announce today. The Blazers have the fifth-best odds to win the lottery at 10.5% and receive the opportunity to select Victor Wembanyama, the top-rated prospect in the draft out of France. The lottery will be held May 16. Roy represented the Blazers in 2007 when they won the lottery and later selected center Greg Oden.

Oregonian

Chandler Parsons: He’s like, “CP, come here. You’re going to Memphis. Portland is gonna give you a physical and because of Greg Oden and Brandon Roy’s injury history, you might not pass. If you do that and they red flag you, bro, you’re taking a minimum deal and you’re smoked out of $95 million. I go back in there, bro, and I Oscar performance going back in. Oscar! I go back in there, “Listen, guys, I’ve never...I’ve never been more sure of something in my life. Grit and Grind to the day I die. I’m like, ‘I’m in!’ Imma get that [expletive] tatted.” I was like, “We can stop it here. I’m signing.”

Blazers Edge

“I wanted to coach, but I didn’t know the fulfillment that I would get out of it,” Roy said. “I don’t want to say I was trying to let basketball go, but it was hard to watch basketball because I couldn’t be a part of it. And I was a pretty young guy, so there was that ego. So, to have these guys be a part of my life and me be part of theirs is special.”

Seattle Times

Portland Trail Blazers PR: The last regular season in which the Trail Blazers hit multiple game-winners with no time remaining was 2008-09: Nov. 6, 2008 vs. Houston and Feb. 8, 2009 vs. New York, both by Brandon Roy. (via @EliasSports)

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