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June 27, 2008
Bobcats' Felton appears safe - for now
Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins did his best Friday to pour water on talk out of New York that Raymond Felton would be traded to the Knicks. Higgins said there was "no truth" to a report in the New York Daily News that the Bobcats might swap Felton for forward David Lee. Higgins got a lot of questions Friday about whether the Bobcats drafting Texas' D.J. Augustin meant Felton might be ticketed out of town. Higgins said he expects Felton to be this team's starting point guard heading into training camp; that while Augustin is probably ready to be the backup, there'a no reason to assume he'd pass Felton in the rotation anytime soon. I don't think the Bobcats are looking to ditch Felton, but I'm confident that if the right deal crossed the team's path, Felton is hardly untouchable.
Posted by rbonnell on June 27, 2008 at 05:14 PM | Permalink
Comments
They shouldn't look into trading anyone, unless it's a deal that CLEARLY makes us better. Felton for Lee doesn't do that. Wallace for TJ Ford doesn't do that.
We are basically now where we THOUGHT we would be last offseason, which was in a pretty good position to fight for a playoff berth.
We shouldn't be dismantling the team any further. We should look to try and fill our PF hole through FA, with our MLE, or try to get a cheap trade here or there.
We should go into this season seeing how everyone performs, and then makes trades if necessary.
I don't think anyone should be traded out just based on what happened last season. Keep them and see how they do now that we have resolved two of our biggest problems last season (coaching, and the lack of a pass-first PG that makes his team mates better).
Posted by: Will | Jun 27, 2008 5:27:43 PM
come on, Felton for Lee is a pretty good trade. A young, energetic rebounding PF is exactly what we need. Plus, that would make all the racist Bobcats fans happy who bitch and moan about having no white players.
I love Felton but I'd take that trade.
Posted by: tomP | Jun 27, 2008 5:43:23 PM
It's def. put up or shut up time for all the bcats and bcats management.
I, however, find it hard to not think the team will exceed by simply having a consistent approach to the game.
And I will say that there is no way, given an honest chance, that augustin passes felton. But, if it did, then LB orchestrated an excellent draft.
Posted by: bonnell=procton | Jun 27, 2008 6:04:53 PM
Felton is our point guard. Untouchable! He is and will be one of the top point guards in the NBA. Watch and see. :)
"Strrraaightt out of low cashh".
Posted by: Bobcat FanD | Jun 27, 2008 6:07:19 PM
I agree that the team is in a better position now than it was last season with a coupleofguys coming back from injuries. We definately need either May to step up and provide a 10ppg and 7rpg average or will need to pick up a PF who can do this via FA or Trade. Felton for Lee doesn't make much sense to me, we would then start Lee and Okafor neither of which can hit a 10 foot jump shot or take their man one on one.
Posted by: Mason | Jun 27, 2008 6:17:34 PM
If we do trade Felton I'd like to think there would be a veteran PG coming back to the Bobs.
Posted by: Jared | Jun 27, 2008 7:09:46 PM
Felton is one of the top point guards in the NBA? Yeah right. Paul, Nash, D. Williams, B. Davis, Kidd, Billups, A. Miller, Calderon, J. Nelson, Parker, Mo Williams, D. Harris, TJ Ford, Barbosa, Rondo, R. Alston, D. West. Felton might be better than like two or three of those guys... thats it.
Posted by: Nick | Jun 27, 2008 9:13:20 PM
maybe but Lee for Felton is a really dumb trade and not even close. Lets just pick up Jamison untill our France guy is ready!
Posted by: jaybird | Jun 27, 2008 11:40:28 PM
i can not belive that larry brown chose a point guard when they need big men. i am glad he didn't do that when he coached us,(spurs) he could have gotten robin lopez.
Posted by: richard pennington | Jun 28, 2008 12:05:22 AM
i can not belive that larry brown chose a point guard when they need big men. i am glad he didn't do that when he coached us,(spurs) he could have gotten robin lopez.
Posted by: richard pennington | Jun 28, 2008 12:06:10 AM
Felton finished 7th in the ENTIRE NBA in assists last year, and that was flip-flopping between PG and SG last year. Play him at PG full time and he would avg 10 assists a game. What more would any team want from their point? Try to find a big man who can SCORE in free agency, hope all the injured players return healthy, and let Brown elevate the teams defensive effort and see what happens. No more trades needed right now. If at the All Star Break something needs to be done, then do it.
Posted by: cchhotdog | Jun 28, 2008 8:01:17 AM
Rick, you are a f'ing tool bag. You may be the only person in America writing a blog that hates their readers. Take your conceded 'I'm the President of the Writers Association' sorry ass somewhere else. No one cares.
Posted by: Harold | Jun 28, 2008 9:37:52 AM
Normally, I'd agree with you Harold but after reading some of Tom Sorendouche's columns, the title of most conceited, talentless reporter resides firmly with him.
Bonnell has actually done a pretty good job with this draft, and reporting what he's heard. Sorendouche only wrote a couple of columns on how he is the smartest draftnik around and how everyone should want to hire him. I mean he knew Morrison wasn't going to be good, what?!?!? Did he have a crystal ball?!?!?
Posted by: bonnell=procton | Jun 28, 2008 10:17:26 AM
I am ecstatic that the Bobcats didn't take Lopez. I am not the biggest Augustin fan, but hopefully he can light a fire under Felton.
Posted by: Token | Jun 28, 2008 10:54:47 AM
CCH, you might have a point if Felton hadn't distributed assists at a higher rate while playing shooting guard throughout his career. Nobody questions his pure ability to pass, just his ability to run an offense and make the decisions inherent of the point guard position.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jun 28, 2008 11:08:42 AM
Felton for lee sounds like a good trade to me and I am a straight up Tar Heel. Lee is a walking double double and produces starter numbers off the bench. Felton is good for double doubles to, but the bobcats need a legit PF.
Posted by: Noah | Jun 28, 2008 11:09:20 AM
Larry Brown's success relies on his ability to find a smart point guard that he can push beyond his limits to successfully run his team. In fact, every point guard who has ever played for Brown, admits that he is very tough on them.
My guess is, and I could be wrong, that Larry Brown doubts Raymond's ability to be that person.
If the team wants him gone and believes in Augustine, I'm all for it, because I know what Brown needs to win.
Posted by: Brian | Jun 28, 2008 11:38:34 AM
If Mike D'Antoni would want him, that speaks highly of Raymond Felton as a point guard. And as I've said before, I think Ray has gotten a very raw deal in Charlotte by (1) being forced to play out of position at SG and (2) having exactly ONE offensive weapon (J-Rich) at his disposal.
That said, if we could get David Lee ... that would be hard to turn down. I don't know if we'd be interested in offering the MLE to Beno Udrih, if we traded Ray.
Posted by: say what? | Jun 28, 2008 1:58:15 PM
Bonnell=Procton, you are absolutely right. Sorensucks is the absolute worst.
Posted by: apauldds | Jun 28, 2008 2:07:23 PM
Just wondering, if Larry Brown is forced to play Crash at the 4, how long till he becomes a complete vegetable?
Posted by: apauldds | Jun 28, 2008 2:10:42 PM
What about a felton for haslem trade? Miami needs a pg, bcats a PF. Does haslem have an offensive game?
Posted by: bonnell=procton | Jun 28, 2008 5:47:35 PM
Haslem = $6M/yr ... and averages 9.9 pts/game for his career. Felton = $3M/yr.
Posted by: say what? | Jun 28, 2008 6:06:50 PM
"but I'm confident that if the right deal crossed the team's path, Felton is hardly untouchable."
WOW.HOW'S THAT FOR A BOLD STATEMENT!!!
Posted by: matt | Jun 28, 2008 7:23:40 PM
Procton once again you are incorrect. Actually Felton's highest assist totals came during the last 1/8 of the season when Wallace was not playing and Felton was surrounded by more shooters and played entirely at PG. More shooters = more assists and a more effecient offense. I love Wallace, he is my favorite player on the Bobcats, but we played our best the last 10 games of the season w/o him. Felton averaged 16ppg and 10apg during that stretch and the team went .500, which would have been 6th or 7th in the East.
Posted by: Mason | Jun 28, 2008 7:31:13 PM
We need Walter Herrmann back. With Vincent gone, Larry Brown would find a way to use his talents.
Posted by: Walter Herrmann | Jun 28, 2008 7:47:03 PM
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