Will Everybody Love Raymond?

[OnFire]

ESPN reports that:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Raymond Felton's agent went to Las Vegas confident he was close to hammering out a long-term deal with the Charlotte Bobcats.

Kevin Bradbury left the meeting with Charlotte general manager Rod Higgins disappointed and far apart in negotiations.

"We're definitely not close as far as what we're discussing and what we think fair market [value] is for Raymond," Bradbury said Wednesday, a day after the meeting.

Sounds like an opening.

Felton, the Bobcats' first-round pick in 2005, has maintained he wants to stay in Charlotte. After averaging 14.2 points and 6.7 assists last season and winning over coach Larry Brown, the Bobcats have made re-signing him a top offseason priority.

The Bobcats could match any offer he receives, and Bradbury said he's had some informal talks with teams. Felton could also sign the one-year tender of $5.5 million and become an unrestricted free agent next season.

Interesting figure that we may
be able to afford specially if
we don't match TOR's offer for
Jack. Mike Wells of Indystar.com
blogs that:

The Pacers appear to be on the lookout for another point guard.

They've currently got T.J. Ford and Travis Diener and they drafted A.J. Price, who many in the organization rave about, in the second round last month.

Ford will regain the starting position Jack took from him at the end of last season, but the Pacers want a player that can play significant minutes if Ford gets injured.

The Pacers, who have about $5.2 million remaining to spend on free agents, are interested in veteran Anthony Carter and Luther Head, who can play both guard positions. Andre Miller is also out there but it would take a sign-and-trade deal to make it work. Take restricted free agent Ramon Sessions off your list. The Pacers don't have the money to get him.

Could Felton be added on
this list? If we're concerned
about TJ's durability, Felton
has missed a total of only
9 games in his 4 years at CHA –
including the complete 82-game
grind last season.

He's young, skilled, and from
how he's performed, seems
like he can be a good fit
with our team.

Your thoughts.

[Kuq_e_Zi91]

I remember we were close to making a deal for Felton before the trade deadline in February. They were actually interested in Tinsley, and the talks were serious but we could never work out a deal. Maybe we can revisit those talks. I'd love Felton in Indy.

[laydo]

Since the Pacers has used part of MLE to sign Dahntay Jones, we cannot offer Felton that much unless we do the sign and trade. But Felton will be the base year contract player which is hard to trade.

[blueandgold]

Quick look at some late 2008 PG rankings by CSB Sports (Need to capture mor recent data- this to start the dsicussion):

1- Paul
2- Miller
3- Rose
4- Mo Williams
5- Billups
11- Felton
17- Jack
19- Ford
22- Sessions
off the chart Tinsley
Did not fine Diener

Someone please post the lastest / current PG rankings (Some include the Rookies)

[Dunthreevy]

I'd love to have Felton. I actually got really excited about us possibly trading for him last season.

[Miller4ever]

S&T involving Ford or Tinsley would be nice, but Felton's attitude towards this entire contract isn't garnering much love.

[joew8302]

If this is the Bobcats top priority and they can't sign him what makes people think we have enough money to sign him? Sure, it would b nice, but just not very realistic.

[Crossova21]

Question is: would he fit in Obie's system? He always seemed like a shoot-first PG but I'd still love to have him.

[Wizop]

off the top of my head, I think you'd have to convert the Jack deal into a three way sign and trade to make it work. wonder if Toronto has a contract in the right range than Charlotte would want.

[basketballwacko2]

S&T involving Ford or Tinsley would be nice, but Felton's attitude towards this entire contract isn't garnering much love.

What if Felton takes his Qualifying offer? $5.5 million for this season then he is an unrestricted free agent. Could we trade for him at that point, would he be BYC1. What about a Tinsley and Foster for Felton and Nazr or Radman. We could then trade TJ in a 2nd deal.

[Scoot McGroot]

S&T involving Ford or Tinsley would be nice, but Felton's attitude towards this entire contract isn't garnering much love.

What if Felton takes his Qualifying offer? $5.5 million for this season then he is an unrestricted free agent. Could we trade for him at that point, would he be BYC1. What about a Tinsley and Foster for Felton and Nazr or Radman. We could then trade TJ in a 2nd deal.

If Felton takes the QO, then he is technically not allowed to be traded without his express written consent, and here's where it gets tricky. If he agrees to get traded, any team trading for him loses ALL Bird Rights on him, and then would have to sign him with only cap space or salary exceptions (such as the MLE).

I can't see Felton agreeing to that to any team other than one that is going to be FAR under the salary cap as it basically destroys any chance at making more than the MLE.