Basketball Roy, Blazers close to long-term contract

[GotGibson?]

Brandon Roy has become the face of the franchise, and the Portland Trail Blazers want to keep it that way.

Going into the final year of his rookie contract, Roy and the team are on the verge of agreeing to a long-term extension, The Oregonian reported on Tuesday.

"We've had very productive discussions recently and are optimistic we will reach a deal soon," Roy's agent, Bob Myers said, according to the newspaper.

According to the report, Roy has been seeking a four-year deal with a player option for the fifth year at a maximum $82 million.

Roy led the Blazers in scoring (22.6), assists (5.1) and steals (1.1) last season and has averaged 19.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game in his three-year career.

Roy was acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a draft day trade for Randy Foye in 2006 and went on to win Rookie of the Year. Before he arrived, the Blazers were 21-61, but they have improved every season and made the playoffs last season at 54-28 -- losing in the first round.

If Roy agrees, the Blazers can turn their attention to signing LaMarcus Aldridge, who entered the league at the same time as Roy. He was second on the team in scoring (18.1) and rebounding (7.5) last season.

 

[bgomourto]

I heard yesterday that the deal is reported to be for 5 years-max money with no player option on the fifth year. Can't wait for the ink to be put to paper.

 

[bjtheman1]

Good deal for both parties, especially if Portland keeps Aldridge!

 

[GotGibson?]

Roy, Blazers agree to 5-year extension

The Portland Trail Blazers have reached an agreement on a five-year contract extension with guard Brandon Roy.

The contract will be for the maximum allowed under league rules. Specific numbers won't be available until the NBA salary cap is set next July. This year a starting max contract would be worth $82 million over the course of five years. However, next year the cap is expected to go down between 5 and 10 percent. That means the value of Roy's contract will go down, too.

"We've reached an agreement in principle," Roy's agent, Bob Myers, told said Wednesday night.

Roy is expected to sign the contract and make it official on Thursday, according to sources.

The Blazers have been in an on-again, off-again contract negotiation throughout the month of July. At times, Roy's camp reportedly was frustrated with the Blazers' unwillingness to offer Roy a maximum contract. It appears Roy ultimately got what he wanted.

Roy led the Blazers with 22.6 points and 5.1 assists per game last season, his third in the league. He was acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a draft-day trade for Randy Foye in 2006 and went on to win NBA Rookie of the Year honors.

The high-scoring guard helped the Blazers go 54-28 last season before losing in the first round of the playoffs. Portland was 21-61 the season before Roy arrived.

Now the Blazers are turning their full attention to extending the player who was drafted four spots ahead of Roy -- LaMarcus Aldridge. A source close to the situation said that Aldridge and the team were "progressing" toward a deal.

 

[GotGibson?]

Trail Blazers ebullient about Roy's extension

Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard called Brandon Roy a pillar of the franchise at a press conference Friday during which he formally announced Roy's multiyear contract extension.

Pritchard said it was "an amazing day" and that he looked forward to Roy's future with the team.

He recalled going out to watch Roy in a workout before he was first signed to the team.

"I remember driving back from that workout thinking this is our guy, and he's going to be a pillar of our franchise," he said. "Brandon is a leader. He's a guy who cares about his teammates."

The Trail Blazers have declined to release contract terms, but Roy's agent said it's a five-year deal which could be worth more than $80 million. The fifth year, ending in 2015, the agent said, is at Roy's option.

The two-time All-Star, who grew up in Seattle, said he never had any reservations about signing for the long-haul with team, despite free agency and the salary cap.

"From my first year in this organization, I knew where I wanted to be," he said. "I couldn't imagine being anywhere but here in Portland."

The 25-year-old Roy led the Trail Blazers with 22.6 points and 5.1 assists per game last season. He's been instrumental in helping the team win back a fan base that had been alienated by the so-called Jail Blazers of the past.

Contract negotiations took longer than Roy had hoped, he said. It was frustrating, but it "is something that's part of the business."

When his agent called to tell him the deal had finally been completed, "I just had this huge smile on my face -- of relief," he said.

Now, he says he's "chomping at the bits" to get the new season started.

"Being the best team at the end of the season is my ultimate goal," Roy said. "I'm chasing the championship."

The Trail Blazers are still working on an extension with the team's second-leading scorer, forward LaMarcus Aldridge. Roy said he hopes a deal gets done soon.