Portland smart to extend Brandon Roy before negotiations got ugly

Breaking NBA news mixed with analysis …

Their News: Brandon Roy has reportedly agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Portland Trail Blazers. (Associated Press via ESPN)

My Quick Gut Reaction: Call it a no-brainer.

Brandon Roy is a franchise player and today got paid like one. On-court, he scores, defends, rebounds, sets-up others, and competes. Off-court, he’s a leader, establishing an unselfish environment in a young locker room, handling the media professionally, and displaying class when connecting with the Portland community.

After the Jail Blazers, Roy’s a breath of fresh. Signing him was an easy decision.

But credit GM Kevin Pritchard for getting this done before it became more of a distraction. In July, Roy publicly expressed concern with the pace of negotiations. Recently, reports had surfaced that the two sides were at odds over the 2014-15 season. 

In today’s economy, Portland could have easily haggled over money and/or term. Pritchard and owner Paul Allen wisely realized the bigger picture -making Roy feel valued- was more important and came to an agreement. This will surely pay dividends in the future. 

With Roy locked up, ‘Rip City’ will stay relevant and competitive for years to come.

Got thoughts on Roy’s extension? Get at us in the comment box below and follow Oly’s work via HoopsVibe Blog and on twitter. Photo courtesy of k lang4d.