Bobcat4Ever
04-01-2008, 07:57 PM
Contract Talks Await Felton
By: Wendell Maxey
You would think the way the season has gone for Raymond Felton that he'd be the first one to pack it in for Charlotte, but that is far from the case.
Felton has taken some unfair criticism for Charlotte's underachieving season and concerns have surfaced if he's really fit to be the Bobcats point guard of the future. Such frustration and uncertainties surely warrant time away from the court, particularly knowing what the offseason holds for Felton.
This summer, the Bobcats can go in one of two directions with Felton, now in his third year in the league. They can either sign him to a lucrative long-term extension that would kick in for the 2009-10 season with the franchise or simply pick up his option, leaving him a restricted free agent in the summer of 2009.
But with the details of his contract in Charlotte unsettled and awaiting, Felton has learned to embrace the now instead of worry about the later in the final weeks of this season.
"It's been long," Felton told HOOPSWORLD looking back on the year.
"It's been a little bumpy, but at the same time it's been productive. I feel like I've gotten better throughout the season from beginning until now and I feel like the team has gotten better. That's what it is all about. It's all about getting better for yourself and the team."
For Felton, this season has seen him go from playing a supporting role to since departed veteran point guards Jeff McInnis and Brevin Knight to a constant audition for his future in Charlotte.
Felton took over sole control of head coach Sam Vincent's backcourt in early March and the last 25 games of the season have given the Bobcats front office and coaching staff a chance to see what they truly have in the former North Carolina Tar Heel.
"It's really wonderful for me as a coach to watch Raymond's growth at the point guard spot with all that has gone on through the course of this year," Vincent explained.
"Now he's making key decisions at key times and making key shots to give us big wins. That's a lot of growth by Raymond."
The past month has also given Felton a chance to evaluate himself in this maturation process.
"I think I've gotten better at taking ownership of this team and being a vocal leader out there on the court," Felton explained. "That's the biggest thing. That's where my growth has come from the most. It's all about taking the leadership roll over and hitting the big shot when it comes, or put someone in a good situation to hit a big shot."
When pressed for aspects of his game he wants to fine tune in Charlotte's final eight games of the season, Felton – who is averaging a career-high 14.1 points per game, 7.1 assists per game and currently ranks 9th in the league in total assists (506) – didn't sugarcoat it.
"I'm going to say everything. I'm the type of player that I like to work on everything," he said flashing a smile.
"We're moving in the right direction."
Felton's honesty shines through in a dim season in Charlotte - a team with an impressive roster and deceiving 28-46 record. But there are also questions the franchise must answer. Will pending restricted free agent center Emeka Okafor return after testing the waters? Is Sam Vincent still the man for the job? And does Charlotte put their stock into the future of Felton during offseason negotiations?
With the Bobcats postseason aspirations out of reach and his pending contract talks on the horizon, Felton can do little about those major concerns. All he plans on doing instead is staying focused on the task at hand: continuing to lead his team.
"You can't look ahead," Felton said when asked what this coming summer will hold.
"We're not going to just stop at this point and shut it down. We're going to finish strong and see what happens."
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=8095
By: Wendell Maxey
You would think the way the season has gone for Raymond Felton that he'd be the first one to pack it in for Charlotte, but that is far from the case.
Felton has taken some unfair criticism for Charlotte's underachieving season and concerns have surfaced if he's really fit to be the Bobcats point guard of the future. Such frustration and uncertainties surely warrant time away from the court, particularly knowing what the offseason holds for Felton.
This summer, the Bobcats can go in one of two directions with Felton, now in his third year in the league. They can either sign him to a lucrative long-term extension that would kick in for the 2009-10 season with the franchise or simply pick up his option, leaving him a restricted free agent in the summer of 2009.
But with the details of his contract in Charlotte unsettled and awaiting, Felton has learned to embrace the now instead of worry about the later in the final weeks of this season.
"It's been long," Felton told HOOPSWORLD looking back on the year.
"It's been a little bumpy, but at the same time it's been productive. I feel like I've gotten better throughout the season from beginning until now and I feel like the team has gotten better. That's what it is all about. It's all about getting better for yourself and the team."
For Felton, this season has seen him go from playing a supporting role to since departed veteran point guards Jeff McInnis and Brevin Knight to a constant audition for his future in Charlotte.
Felton took over sole control of head coach Sam Vincent's backcourt in early March and the last 25 games of the season have given the Bobcats front office and coaching staff a chance to see what they truly have in the former North Carolina Tar Heel.
"It's really wonderful for me as a coach to watch Raymond's growth at the point guard spot with all that has gone on through the course of this year," Vincent explained.
"Now he's making key decisions at key times and making key shots to give us big wins. That's a lot of growth by Raymond."
The past month has also given Felton a chance to evaluate himself in this maturation process.
"I think I've gotten better at taking ownership of this team and being a vocal leader out there on the court," Felton explained. "That's the biggest thing. That's where my growth has come from the most. It's all about taking the leadership roll over and hitting the big shot when it comes, or put someone in a good situation to hit a big shot."
When pressed for aspects of his game he wants to fine tune in Charlotte's final eight games of the season, Felton – who is averaging a career-high 14.1 points per game, 7.1 assists per game and currently ranks 9th in the league in total assists (506) – didn't sugarcoat it.
"I'm going to say everything. I'm the type of player that I like to work on everything," he said flashing a smile.
"We're moving in the right direction."
Felton's honesty shines through in a dim season in Charlotte - a team with an impressive roster and deceiving 28-46 record. But there are also questions the franchise must answer. Will pending restricted free agent center Emeka Okafor return after testing the waters? Is Sam Vincent still the man for the job? And does Charlotte put their stock into the future of Felton during offseason negotiations?
With the Bobcats postseason aspirations out of reach and his pending contract talks on the horizon, Felton can do little about those major concerns. All he plans on doing instead is staying focused on the task at hand: continuing to lead his team.
"You can't look ahead," Felton said when asked what this coming summer will hold.
"We're not going to just stop at this point and shut it down. We're going to finish strong and see what happens."
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=8095