Raymond Felton had some highs and lows during his time with the Knicks. As time went on, we started seeing a lot more of the lows. I made an Andrea Bargnani Music Video last week, so I figured I’d try making one for Raymond Felton. Enjoy, and share!
Special thanks to ObGlobal.net for providing so many Felton clips for me to work with.
The video above leaves out most of Felton’s defensive catastrophes, but there were more than enough problems for Ray on offense. Good riddance…
-Tommy Rothman
Knicks point guard Raymond Felton has reached a plea deal that will keep him out of prison after he was faced with weapons charges. Felton faced a maximum of 7 years in prison, but instead will be required to complete 500 hours of community service, pay a $5,000 fine, register as a gun offender, waive his right as a defendant to appeal the case, and plead guilty to at least one felony gun charge.
Felton had a dreadful season both on and off the court, and the Knicks are reportedly looking to trade him. Regardless of where he plays next season, he will look to bounce back from what was without a question the low point of his career so far.
-Tommy Rothman
According to league sources, Knicks President Phil Jackson told Raymond Felton that he will attempt to trade him this summer during his exit interview with the embattled Knicks point guard at the end of this past season. Adam Zagoria of SNY TV had the news first.
Felton had the worst season of his career in 2013-2014, struggling constantly on defense and, more often than not, floundering on the offensive end as well. Felton also had his off-the-court issues, getting arrested on weapons charges brought by his ex-wife, who had divorced him a week earlier.
Felton was solid last year, but battled with injuries at the start of the season, making it difficult for him to play well and get in rhythm. As his poor play continued into the middle of the season, the fans began to turn on him in earnest, and by the end of the year, Raymond had become an outcast at Madison Square Garden.
Felton has shown that he can be a solid point guard, and his contract isn’t too bad ($3.8 Million next season with a player option for $4 Million the year after that). His value is at rock-bottom right now, so the Knicks would be very unlikely to get anything useful for him. In fact, if the deal they almost swung at the deadline with the Clippers is any indication, they might have to GIVE UP something valuable in order to get somebody to take Raymond off their hands. The Knicks would be incredibly foolish to make such a move this summer, giving away one or more of their limited assets just to get rid of a guy they don’t have the stomach to glue to the end of the bench. I think the Knicks should look to add a point guard or two (sources say they are interested in Steve Blake), but still keep Felton around and see if he can get healthy, regain his composure, and bounce back under a new coach.
That being said, with a new President in charge and a new coach on the way, players who the guys in the front office don’t think “fit the system” are on the chopping block, and whether it’s fair or not, Raymond Felton’s spot on the team is in serious, serious jeopardy.
It’ll be interesting to see what the Knicks, and Felton, do here. Let’s just hope Phil & Co. don’t mess up too badly, if things don’t end up going well.
For the next few weeks, however, most of the team’s focus will be on finding a new coach… stay tuned.
-Tommy Rothman
The shot clock is running down! Press Square! PRESS SQUARE!!!!!
A tough season for Raymond Felton just got worse. Felton has struggled all year and the Knicks were actively trying to dump his contract before the trade deadline. Last week, it was reported that Felton’s wife has filed for a divorce. Now, Felton is in serious trouble with the law.
Felton was arrested this morning on on three counts of criminal possession of a weapon. Two of the charges, second and third degree possession of a firearm, are felonies. The other, fourth degree possession, is a misdemeanor. According to a spokesman, the charges do not stem from him using the firearm, just from possessing one. Felton is expected to appear in criminal court today. Let’s see how this plays out…
-Tommy Rothman
The Knicks and Raptors are discussing a trade that would send Kyle Lowry to New York. The Knicks’ latest offer is Raymond Felton, Metta World Peace, and a 2018 first round pick for the 27 year-old Lowry, who is averaging 14.6 points, 6.7 assists, and 3.8 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game this season.
Knicks fans have long complained about the lack of a dynamic point guard, and the grumblings have grown louder this season thanks to Felton’s injury and resulting poor level of play. Felton will miss the next 2-3 weeks with the hamstring problem which has been ailing him, but as the Raptors are trying to set themselves up to “tank”, this seemingly will not be a roadblock in negotiations. I would like to see the Knicks keep a draft pick for once, but a draft pick 5 years down the road, an injured point guard in Felton, and an aging, deteriorating Metta World Peace wouldn’t be too much to give up for Lowry, especially considering that the Knicks would gain a bit more payroll flexibility. If the Knicks can manage to bring in a point guard without losing Iman Shumpert or Tim Hardaway Jr., that doesn’t seem like a bad deal.
-Tommy Rothman
New York Knicks Memes 