The Los Angeles Lakers ranked dead last in bench scoring last season, as their reserves accounted for just 20.5 points per game, but Brandon Roy won't be the answer to their substitutes' scoring woes next year.
According to a source familiar with the team's thinking, the Lakers are not interested in Roy, the former Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard who retired last December because of knee troubles. Roy, who turns 28 next month, has been working out in L.A. this summer in hopes of returning to the league.
While certainly respecting the player who Roy once was, the Lakers are skeptical that Roy's body would be able to make it though the grind of a full 82-game season, according to the source. The prevailing thought within the organization is that Roy misses the game and is going through the natural longing process that many competitors deal with shortly after retirement. They aren't convinced that Roy will be able to physically return to the form that allowed him to average 19.0 points and 4.7 assists over the course of his five-year career. With many holes to fill on their bench and only the mini mid-level exception and veteran minimum contracts to use in free agency to fill them, Roy carries too big of a risk.
Just because the Lakers aren't interested doesn't mean that there won't be a market for Roy. Both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors have publicly acknowledged their interest in the 6-6 combo guard. ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher reported that the Chicago Bulls are in the mix for Roy's services as well, and the Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers are also potential suitors, according to Yahoo! Sports.
Dave McMenamin covers the Lakers for ESPNLosAngeles.com. Follow him on Twitter.