Brandon Roy has been practicing, hopes to return this week

Brandon Roy played in the first five games of the season for the Timberwolves, but since then the knee issues that forced his retirement a couple seasons ago have returned and kept him on the sidelines. It’s been part of an injury-plagued season in Minnesota.

But Roy wants to get back on the court for the end of the season.

He’s been practicing for a couple weeks now and wants to play, according to the Pioneer Press.

Injured Timberwolves shooting guard Brandon Roy said he has been practicing hard for two weeks, that his tender right knee is improving and that he’ll ask coach Rick Adelman this week if he can return to the court.

The question for me is this: Is this a swan song or an effort to see if he has enough in the tank to come back next season?

Either way, Adelman should probably grant the request. The Timberwolves are playing out the string; let Roy get a final time on the court.

According to Sham Sports (best NBA contract info on the Web), if Roy didn’t play much due to a recurring knee issue (which is the case) his $5.3 million for next season is not guaranteed. He did not reach the benchmarks (65 games or 1,400 minutes of game play) that make the deal automatic. My guess is one way or another Minnesota moves on this summer.