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September 23, 2009
Felton signs Bobcats qualifying offer
The Charlotte Bobcats and Raymond Felton's agent both confirmed this morning that Felton has signed the one-year, $5.5 million qualifying offer for this season, which will make him an unrestricted free agent next summer.
This amounts to an acknowledgement that the team and Felton couldn't work out a long-term deal. Agent Kevin Bradbury said Felton isn't upset by that and wants to remain in Charlotte.
"Everybody understands the (economic) climate. – what the Bobcats are going through right now,'' Bradbury told the Observer. "He wants to be part of something – he believes the team had good momentum from last season and can be a playoff team. He’s purely focused on his loyalty to the Bobcats and to coach Larry Brown.''
With training camp opening Tuesday, Bradbury said Felton wanted this settled.
"He doesn’t want to be a distraction. He doesn’t want this to get in the way'' of a successful season, Bradbury said. "This summer we were dealing in business, and now he wants to turn to the business of basketball.’’
Felton had little leverage this summer, in the absence of another team offering him a lucrative offer sheet, which the Bobcats would have had the option to match. Assuming Felton plays well this coming season, he'll have far more leverage as an unrestricted free agent.
The difference is next summer, the Bobcats would retain no right to match other team's offers.
Posted by Observer Sports on September 23, 2009 at 10:57 AM | Permalink
Comments
Well I hope he stays true to his word and stays. I still believe Larry Brown can really mold him into a star and I'm glad he's here and very intrested in seeing how he/DJ and Chandler will play together. Its hard to find players who have a love for the city and want to help turn the city's team into a contender. We know this all to well with our MR $16 million dollar man over at B of A Stadium.
Posted by: Smitty | Sep 23, 2009 11:17:59 AM
Felton has done everything the Bobcats has asked! Think he is worth a long term deal! What's up with ownership in Charlotte these days! yeah talking about Mr. Richardson too!
Posted by: panfan1 | Sep 23, 2009 11:21:29 AM
This isn't good news. I was hoping the Bobcats would sign Raymond to a long-term extension. They are risking letting him leave for nothing at the end of the season.
Posted by: G'boro Cats Fan | Sep 23, 2009 11:29:00 AM
Felton is a classy guy. He is a true professional and handles himself with class.
Now work on the jump shot so it is ready to go in November instead of December. It always seems like it takes Felton a month to get warmed up.
Posted by: pantherfan | Sep 23, 2009 11:30:14 AM
THe Bobcats certainly have the right to match other teams' offers.
And in fact, Bobcats have the right to offer more years than another team and with higher escalations than another team can offer. ("Bird Rights")
But.....as an unrestricted free agent, Felton has no requirement to accept a matched or exceeded offer. THAT is the key issue.
Posted by: bobfan1 | Sep 23, 2009 11:30:24 AM
Am I the only one who thinks DJ Augustine is a waste of our time and money? He has never impressed me as a legitimate threat to do much of anything in the short term or long term.
Posted by: flanahan32 | Sep 23, 2009 11:33:59 AM
You had me until that last line smitty. Again, you can't hate someone & expect for them to perform at a high level when that person said CLEARLY before the season started that he wants to move on & seek playing for another team. Just because the team chose to franchise him & pay him 16 million doesnt mean hes obligated to perform how you feel he should. Furthermore, Peppers had a great game against Philly.
Back to Felton, he is a one of a kind player. He wants to improve this team, he wants to play for this team, his love & passion for basketball & this city is amazing. He never whines, hes a stand up guy, & he is actively invovled in helping the community & giving back. But Procton & the rest of the Dookies will focus on his FG %, call him a ball hog, & throw his name in the dirt. Lets see if Augustin can play a full season first & work on his defense before we drag Felton through the mud.
Posted by: D.W.G. | Sep 23, 2009 11:34:58 AM
heard it here. as a felton fan i cant wait for the bobcats to suck this year and give him what they just gave emeka. a trade to a contender that gives him a chance to play for a real franchise! bobcats ownership sucks.
Posted by: my2centsworth | Sep 23, 2009 11:39:16 AM
1. I applaud Raymond for taking care of this so he and the team can get going.
2. The Bobcats are straped for cash and maybe with a playoff run and higher attendance, they can have the cash to sign him to a long term deal.
3. If the team struggles, the whole Brown crew may be gone.
Posted by: Roger | Sep 23, 2009 11:40:28 AM
I would have to think a big reason a long term deal was not agreed upon would be the impending sale of the team. Less long term financial obligations = more attractive franchise for potential buyers.
Posted by: kjk | Sep 23, 2009 11:48:50 AM
DWG, I know Pep is not going to play like a superstar for a team that he doesn't want to be on !!! What I was saying was that unlike Pep, Felton has a love for THIS city and WANTS to help Charlotte's team to the next level. Something Peppers has no interest in!
Posted by: Smitty | Sep 23, 2009 11:52:10 AM
This all leads me to believe this season is Felton's last season here. I am a Bobcats fan (season ticket holder in fact) and this team has done NOTHING to improve this summer. We are one major injury away from a 25 win season.
Posted by: Sascol | Sep 23, 2009 12:16:58 PM
Felton's an idiot...if this team offered him anywhere between 6-8 mil he should have taken it & ran...No way in hell should this team pay him anymore than that, he's a good player but he's not an all-star & not a franchise PG the biggest problem w/ this team right now is that we have too much $$$ invested in ok players...We overpaid Carroll, we overpaid Gerald(who i love but on a true contender he's the 3rd or 4th option), we overpaid Okafor and we picked up the horrible contract of Nazr, Diop & Radmanovic.. what the hell is a team that never made the playoffs doing with that many bloated contracts on the roster??!! If we start off the year on a bad note i say blow the whole thing up & get some expiring contracts in here to rebuild...
Posted by: Toriano | Sep 23, 2009 12:21:20 PM
It sucks that I had to find this out yesterday on national sites. Why so late?
Posted by: Mark | Sep 23, 2009 12:24:26 PM
Rick:
You posted in a prior blog that around 7 million would "get it done". The guy at the Baseline who broke this story says that Felton turned down that amount (roughly).
Do you still feel comfortable in saying that Felton would have signed for that type of deal?
Thanks
BTW...no way is Crash overpaid. Dude is on a very good contract for what he brings to the table.
Posted by: spectre | Sep 23, 2009 12:41:32 PM
Guys, most of you have made valid points. Here is my take: Felton is a class act and has done everything that the Bobcats could expect and more. The problem is determining fair market value. Felton is a good but not great NBA player, at least so far. Paying him more than 7 mil a year would have been a mistake. I doubt he will make much more than that as a FA next summer unless he has a true breakout season.
Also, on a team that already has DJ, you know one way or another Felton or DJ will end up as a long term back-up. Why not evaluate Felton and DJ another year, then decide who is going to be your long term starter and pay them as such?
The obvious biggest risk for Charlotte is losing Felton for nothing next summer.
And I know smitty personally. He hated the Bobcats before they even had an ownership group...same with the Panthers. I'm everywhere, smitty! :-))))
Posted by: markster | Sep 23, 2009 1:15:14 PM
To the person who said DJ isn't good, what are you smokin? DJ is a really good point guard and if he did not get hurt last year, he would of been a star. Look for big things from DJ this year.
I do like Felton and do not want him to go, but DJ is better.
Posted by: pantherfan | Sep 23, 2009 1:52:19 PM
To the person who said DJ isn't good, what are you smokin? DJ is a really good point guard and if he did not get hurt last year, he would of been a star. Look for big things from DJ this year.
I do like Felton and do not want him to go, but DJ is better.
Posted by: pantherfan | Sep 23, 2009 1:52:24 PM
Good job Ray. 1 more year in purgatory then you can get what you rightfully deserve elsewhere.
Posted by: HitTheRoad | Sep 23, 2009 1:58:44 PM
Spectre if im not mistaken we've had this convo before on REALGM...Gerald is the heart & soul of this team but he is not a #1 or #2 option of a true contender...$9 mil is a bit much, but we had to pay because at that time we could not afford to just let him leave. Same thing with Felton look at our first 4 drafts...Morrison is gone, May is gone, Okafor is gone Felton is the last man standing for an expansion team we basically missed on our first 4 years of the draft so the team definetly wants him to succeed but we are at a point to where we cant just keep locking up money on players that arent really making us that much better....
Posted by: Toriano | Sep 23, 2009 2:05:42 PM
Good job Ray. 1 more year in purgatory then you can get what you rightfully deserve elsewhere.
Posted by: HitTheRoad | Sep 23, 2009 1:58:44 PM
What does he rightfully deserve?? more money? Nope he is nowhere near deserving of anything over 8mil tops!! A shot to play with a better team?? if he played a little better the bobcats might be a better team.... this clown deserves nuthing more than what he's getting now
Posted by: Toriano | Sep 23, 2009 2:10:44 PM
Felton is easily worth 5 year 40mil.
Great PGs are hard to find.
Of course you could trade him for Rondo
and give Rondo the long term deal. I
don't think Rondo is very happy in
Celtic land right now.
Posted by: ctb | Sep 23, 2009 2:15:11 PM
Sporting News said that Felton was offered a contract similar to Marvin Williams' 5 year, 37 mil. I've got mixed feelings about Felton, but if he passed on those numbers, I think it's sayanora Ray-Ray unless he turns into an All Star this year. That deal would be more than generous in my eyes. So, if those numbers are true, there is no blaming the front office for this one.
Posted by: Zed | Sep 23, 2009 2:21:41 PM
Felton is a one of a kind player?? In a good way?? Couldn't be more thrilled with this news . Another year to let DJ reach his potential and we can ship Ray out and move on!
Posted by: mp | Sep 23, 2009 2:28:42 PM
Felton is a hard worker but is too similar too OAKAFOR ...he has tapped his potential.
Felton will not get any better...DJ has a much higher ceiling...
Felton enjoy this year in CLT...the swan song cause the cats aint paying next year
Posted by: Scott | Sep 23, 2009 2:37:29 PM
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