Most Portland Trail Blazers fans knew this day would come. Brandon Roy’s knees were a time bomb, and the athletic guard who used those joints to propel himself into the lane and through the air knew his days in the NBA were numbered.

“The more I would try to prepare to have this big comeback year, the worse my knees would continue to feel,” Roy told the media Thursday, including The Oregonian writer Jason Quick. “As we approached training camp, there was clicking in there, there was something in there really bothering me, and I was starting to feel like I would have to have another (surgery) just to help me get by day to day.”

Roy was attempting to come back from his latest knee surgery, but as the pain in his legs intensified, he was forced to re-evaluate his priorities.

“The Blazers were supporting me 110 percent, and it made me feel that if they could give me that much support, then I had to be 100 percent honest about how I was feeling,” Roy continued. “I felt I owed it to the organization to be as honest as possible.”

Roy, who is a native of Seattle (a city most East Coasters figure is right next to Portland), was waived using the amnesty clause, which means he’ll pocket $63 million without even playing again. But if this sounds like a lazy cash grab, Quick points out that the situation is much more complication than that.

“We try not (to) talk about it, and change the subject,” Roy said, explaining how he and his family have dealt with the news.

Roy told reporters that he had always wanted to play with Jamal Crawford, who the Blazers signed after waiving Roy, because he too is from the Seattle area and is a heck of a scorer.

“You can walk away from someone who doesn’t love you,” Roy said. “And you can walk away from someone you don’t love. But when the love is mutual, the hardest thing to do is to walk away.”

Clearly Roy cared a lot about the city of Portland and the Blazers organization.

Shawne Williams Gives Nets Late-Game Options

Anthony Morrow is undeniably one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA (and maybe ever), but as the lone marksmen on the Nets last season, late-game scenarios weren’t terribly complicated. Opposing defenses knew that the ball was going to Morrow if New Jersey needed a three.

Now that the team has inked Shawne Williams to a two-year deal, the Nets suddenly have options. Like Morrow, Williams hit over 40 percent of his 3-point attempts last season, and because he’s versatile enough to play power forward, the team could squeeze as many as four legitimate long-range shooters on the floor in late-game situations.

“It’s going to be even better to have a guy on the perimeter that can knock down shots,” Morrow told HOOPSWORLD. “He plays hard. He can really play. I don’t know if he gets enough credit because he can really play. It’s good to have a guy like that.

“Now we got so many other weapons out there,” Morrow continued. “We have Deron (Williams) that can make the three. We got Shawne Williams and myself. I think it’s going to put pressure on the defense and I think give Deron and Jordan (Farmar) more room to make moves off of.”

The move may not solve all of the Nets problems, but this is becoming a very versatile roster with players who can succeed in a number of spots.

Caron Butler Discusses America’s New Favorite Team

Could the Los Angeles Clippers be America’s team? They have the talent (America doesn’t root for losers), they’re in the right city and they’re pretty likeable for the most part.

However, there is still some skepticism in the air, largely because basketball fans didn’t previously believe that owner Donald Sterling was committed to winning.

Well recently signed Caron Butler addressed that topic and a few others on ESPN Radio’s Stephen A. Smith Show (thanks to sportsinterviews.com for the transcription).

“I sat down with the coaching staff and I sat down with management and I prayed on the situation and I met with them,” Butler told Smith. “I flew out to San Antonio and then I flew out to Jersey. After meeting with them I just felt it was serious about winning and obviously they were heading in the right direction with a franchise player already established in Blake Griffin. I wanted to be a part of the movement and I felt the energy and I felt something good was about to happen. All the pieces and everything are starting to come together. I prayed on it and we seem to be going in the right direction.”

And that was before the team added Chris Paul, who obviously changes the Clippers’ dynamic quite a bit.

“He takes us into a whole ‘nother stratosphere as far as being a contender, a legitimate contender,” Butler said.” Obviously him, Blake Griffin, myself, DeAndre Jordan, Chauncey Billups, Mo Williams, we’ve got the leadership that we need in the locker room and we’ve got the talent to get it done. It’s not a long shot. Chemistry and camaraderie are going to be key but I love what we got and you’ve gotta give a lot of credit to the GM Neil for going out and making this happen.”

But before anyone can anoint the Clippers “America’s Team,” they have to become Los Angeles’ team.

“That’s the plan,” Butler said when asked if the Clippers can beat the Lakers. “I hope so. My main thing is to focus on the Clippers and try to get better night in and night out and win as many games as possible. Obviously Kobe (Bryant) is well rested and ready to go and you know he’s gonna come out with all guns blazing so it’s gonna be fun and exciting in LA this year.”

It will be very interesting to see how many fair-weather fans switch allegiances from the Lakers to the Clippers this season.

Spoelstra Extends Deal with HEAT

Not many people expected coach Erik Spoelstra to last with this Miami HEAT team, but not only did he lead them to the NBA Finals last season, he just signed an extension to stay with the team.

Spoelstra, who has been with the organization for 17 seasons, has a 148-98 record as coach and even allowed the team to reduce his salary twice during the lockout. Spoelstra had just one year left on his deal, and team President Pat Riley said he didn’t want Spoelstra going into this year as a lame duck coach.

For more on this, check out ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst’s article.

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