Felton gets contract, but just for 1 year
Raymond Felton
Well, I know this is not what Raymond Felton wanted, but in the end he and the Charlotte Bobcats have settled on a one year deal worth $ 5.5 million. This is a far cry from what I thought he would get, but as the online article on The Baseline points out, this is a tough market for restricted free agents, so Felton is the rule not the exception this year. To be blunt, from what I have read around the internet, Felton had one choice for teams: the Bobcats. The good news to all of this? The ex UNC PG and national champion will have a year to make himself look good and raise his stock, he will be an unrestricted free agent next season. The bad news? Well, the 2010 summer seems to be packed with a lot of talent looking to move already, one more name isn’t going to help, is it?
Raymond Felton
The one puzzling thing to me is that rumors were that the Bobcats were offering a contract like another ex Tar Heel, Marvin Williams, got. That means that Felton refused a five year deal worth in the neighborhood of $ 37.5 million. Neither Raymond Felton or his agent, Kevin Bradbury, would admit to this or to how far apart the two sides were. But I have to say if the rumors of this are true, I am not sure I would have held firm for more. Coming back to the point I made earlier, that type of money when just he and the Bobcats were in play is not bad, not bad at all. On the other hand, most people in the know will tell you the money comes when you are unrestricted, but then again, the money will also come if you are playing up to the worth you are asking. I guess it’s a risk that Felton is taking, one that if he can do his job on the court will definitely pay off.
Raymond Felton
I guess this is just one more piece of the puzzle to watch this NBA season, with a head coach like Larry Brown, who can snap with just a wrong word as your boss, with the second year man (D.J. Augustin) looking for more and more playing time, and with a team wanting to get to the promised land (aka the playoffs) will this help or hurt Felton? I know that this is going to sound lame (to non UNC people) but to me Raymond has been a winner, and winners find ways to get it done. Sure, has he lived up to this lottery pick draft? Maybe not, but he is still in the league and still looking to be a top point guard. He might not have reached the top of ladder, but he is not on his way out, and with a good season in 2009-10, Felton could be a piece the missing link, be it with Charlotte or someone else.
As I do with all the Tar Heels, let me wish Raymond Felton all the best for this upcoming season!
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