Will Conroy helped convince Brandon Roy that he could return to the NBA when they were working out together in Seattle.

Conroy is close to Minnesota Timberwolves' general manager David Kahn, who asked him to put in a few words with Roy.

"I told Brandon I know Kahn and he's trying to change the culture in Minnesota," Conroy said.

Conroy is trying to make the Wolves' roster for the second straight season.

Roy and Conroy were teammates at Garfield High School and at Washington.

"We've been friends a long time, and we've had this dream," Roy said Tuesday. "I would be happy to see him stick around. He has an honest chance to make the team, and that's all you can ask for."

Conroy has played briefly with the Grizzlies and Clippers.

"He was one of the main influences for me to take it serious," Roy said of Conroy pushing his comeback attempt. "I was kind of playing around at first, but he was the one who told me, 'You're not done.' He was real big for my confidence."