By Kareem Shaker

Portland, OR

Just as the Portland Trail Blazers were ready to announce center Greg Oden's one-year deal to remain with the team for $8.9 million, news broke that guard Brandon Roy will be forced to retire due to a degenerative knee condition.

Oden, himself the victim of ailing knees since being drafted 1st overall in 2007, brings back his 11.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game back to Portland.

The Indiana native is healthy now, but has played just 82 games since 2007 and missed his entire rookie year after microfracture surgery. He hasn't played in a game since Dec. 5, 2009, when he fractured his left patella while leaping for a block against Houston's Aaron Brooks.

Oden just became a free agent Friday, and the Blazers had three days to match any offer from another team, but the 7-footer didn't hesitate in returning to Portland.

"The mission has not been accomplished,'' his agent Bill Duffy told USAToday Thursday. "The Blazers have stood by Greg, and now he is going to stand by them.''

The Blazers, however, lose an explosive 19 points, 4.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds per game and the team's brightest star in Roy. Though he averaged a career low 12.2 points while playing in just 47 games last season, the Blazers were obviously a better team with him on the court..

Roy had come out of a meeting with team officials Monday feeling good about returning.

"Our plan is that Brandon will be a part of this team going forward," Blazers president Larry Miller told Sports Illustrated Monday.

But news broke that after meeting with doctors, the situation was much more grim than anyone anticipated. Once considered one of the brightest up-and-coming stars in the NBA, the Seattle native will be forecd to retire after just six seasons.

 

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Blazers Oden Signs One-Year-Pact, Roy Set to Retire