GREAT DEBATES: Felton- PG of the future?

[dnbman]

This is the first in our series of "GREAT DEBATE" threads, a series of threads that will be the focal point for arguments on the subject. That way, rather than posting a bunch of different threads that all basically address the same question, we can continue to develop the argument in a single place.

So, let's begin with one of the most contentious questions leading into the new season:

Is Raymond Felton the pg of the future for the Bobcats?

Feel free to copy and paste any arguments you've made in other threads into this thread.

[rallydurham]

It really depends on the price. If he wants upwards of 6-7 million a season then absolutely not we'd be better off just re-drafting, signing a veteran to a contract friendly deal, or dealing for a proven PG.

We can't panic on Felton leaving and locking him up to an Andre Miller type deal.

Personally I don't see us throwing money around anyway by the time we extend Okafor.

[ALong13]

PG are not as hard to come by as PF/C like Okafor, so once we lock up Okafor, I agree with rallydurham that I doubt we start throwing money around. I never see Felton as a huge all-star PG, and I really don't think it be hard to replace him. I don't even consider him a true point, he shoots way too much, and doesn't pass enough, and until he can learn to share the ball a bit more, I don't believe he deserves much of a raise if we extend his contract...Hopefully DA can teach him a bit more though on passing the ball....Currently I don't believe he's our PG of the future, but I think he has the chance to be if he can prove to be more giving....

[Grandmama]

People need to chill out with Ray. He's 23-24 and arguably better off at this point in his career than such top flight PG's as Nash, Billups and Miller at their respective ages. The reason he gets such a bad rap is b/c he came out in the best PG class of the past 15 years?

Who else would you want here is my list of better PGs

Kidd (old)
Nash(old)
BDiddy(Injured-older)
Miller
Paul
DWill
Tony Parker
AI (SG)
Chauncey

Bottom line i think Ray is top 15 with the ability to get better, cause he is young. he is entering his 3rd year this will be the litmus test in my opinion.

[dp111]

Doesn't it seem like adding a real SG will help ray go back to playing his more natural position at PG? Seems to me like the big knock on him is his shot, but Morrison hasn't become the big scorer that we were hoping for in the draft, Okafor's not an offensive powerhouse (though the felton-okafor pick and role seems to work pretty well), Wallace gets injured. I guess it just seems like the reason ray shoots so much may be that there aren't a ton of people to dish to. Adding J-Rich and having a healthy wallace help that out.

[davcbow]

Give Felts some time to develope, its his first year at being the starter.
Go Bobcats!!!

[qchoops]

I think we'll have to wait until this season is over to make that call - he should be done playing significant minutes at SG finally, and that will allow him to develop more...hopefully. Really, this year, with the added scorer in Richardson, will be the first year to fairly evaluate Felton as a point, as the team now has some to give the ball to with the shot clock winding down, where as in the past it was Felton's problem to create/take that final seconds shot.

[123together]

an andre miller type contract? haha felton needs to play like andre miller first.

ill say he'll improve a little bit this year, but its only his 3rd year. until we have someone else on the roster tho, felton is the obvious starter.

[Dunk]

This is his year to prove it. I think this question is answered in about 6 months.

[dav7z]

Doesn't it seem like adding a real SG will help ray go back to playing his more natural position at PG? Seems to me like the big knock on him is his shot, but Morrison hasn't become the big scorer that we were hoping for in the draft, Okafor's not an offensive powerhouse (though the felton-okafor pick and role seems to work pretty well), Wallace gets injured. I guess it just seems like the reason ray shoots so much may be that there aren't a ton of people to dish to. Adding J-Rich and having a healthy wallace help that out.

Doug welcome to Bobcatsplanet .Great first post . I agree Felton hasn't had the weapons til this year . He should get better and better as he gets use to playing with Rich some one else who can create his own shot. Most of Feltons bad shots was with the clock runing down . Rich should help that a lot.Welcome once again,,,,,,,,,