After a summer of contract talks that have proven fruitless, it seems both the Bobcats and their starting point guard, Raymond Felton, have agreed to wait a year. Multiple reports have emerged this morning that have Felton, a restricted free agent this summer, staying in Charlotte for the upcoming season. He will sign a one-year deal worth more than $5 million dollars--not a bad way to "settle," I'd say.
Felton Inks a One-Year Deal with Charlotte
Still, Felton's a player that's flown under the radar in the NBA for the past few years. He entered the NBA as a point guard alongside perennial all-stars Deron Williams and Chris Paul, and while they've rightfully received a great deal of acclaim, Felton's performance has been shortchanged to some degree. He may not be a peer of Paul or Williams, but he's still a very good, steady point guard in a league where that position has taken on added significance in recent years.
While his status as restricted free agent prevented him from garnering much interest this offseason, as a member of the vaunted 2010 free agent class, he could be a hidden gem. And as Chauncey Billups has proven, not all NBA point guards develop immediately; with improved shooting, Felton could evolve into quite a weapon for either Charlotte or another NBA franchise. His 2009 season should be telling as to whether he's able to make that leap.
His agent, for one, had this to say about the upcoming season (via Sporting News):
“Raymond is just ready to put the focus back on basketball,” Felton’s agent, Kevin Bradbury, said. “He doesn’t want any of this to affect the team at the start of training camp. So, we’ll look forward to him having a great season, the Bobcats having a great season and we will talk more with the organization when it is appropriate.”
Indeed, after a summer of stop-and-go negotiations with his own contract--and false-Iverson rumors with his team--I’m sure both Felton and the Bobcats are ready to get back to playing basketball. And for Felton, this year will mean more than most.
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