Remember the days when Raymond Felton was an elite NBA point guard? No? Well, Felton does, and the former New York Knick intends to reclaim his greatness during the 2014-2015 campaign, running the Dallas Mavericks offense.
Felton, who was recently traded by the Knicks to Dallas along with center Tyson Chandler, had a forgettable 2013-2014 season -- averaging a career-low 9.7 points on 39.5 percent shooting, while handing out 5.6 assists per game.
But his problems weren't just on offense; Felton was a liability defensively. Being in poor physical condition was cited as the primary reason for his defensive shortcomings.
Many NBA observers rated Felton, who started all 65 games he apeared in, one of the least-productive starting point guards in the league last season.
The Knicks finished the year 37-45 and failed to earn a playoff berth. New York fans, who went into the season expecting their team to challenge Indiana and Miami for supremacy in the Eastern Conference, instead watched the Knicks sink to second-tier status in the city behind the Brooklyn Nets.
If that wasn't enough, Felton's bad year wasn't confined to the basketball court. In February, Felton was arrested on allegations he threatened his wife with a loaded handgun. He'd later agree to plea to felony gun charges -- avoiding incarceration.
"I was just fighting with a lot of injuries, and I was fighting with a lot of mental stuff off the court, but I don't make any excuses," Felton said. "Last season was all my fault. It was nobody else's but mine. I take the blame for it totally.
"Like I said, I look forward to this year. I'm putting all that behind me. I'm looking forward to this year with the Mavs."
Listen in as @RFeltonGBMS shares his thoughts on the trade to Dallas & much more - https://t.co/cQos7P2DlU pic.twitter.com/3Vmf83bUqt
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) July 8, 2014
Felton hasn't only moved on, he is determined to prove to everyone that he is still a top-level playmaker.
"Just to show everybody that I've still got it, I still can play," Felton said recently during a media call with Dallas reporters, according to ESPN.com. "I still can play the game at this level. I still play as an elite point guard at this level. That's just all.
"When you come off a season like I had last year, there's always a point where you've got to prove yourself coming back the next season. And trust me, I look forward to it."
The experience of last season is still too fresh in the minds of Knicks fans for them to take Felton's proclamation seriously, but he is convinced good things will happen for him in Dallas. And to improve his chances of rebounding, Felton wants another of his ex-Knick teammates to join him and Chandler in Dallas: unrestricted free-agent forward Carmelo Anthony.
The Mavs are among the teams Anthony has visited during this free-agent period, though the Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers appear to be heavier favorites to acquire his services. But Felton has reached out to his ex-teammate in hopes of improving Dallas' chances.
"Like I told him before, I would love to play with him, it would be great,'' Felton said, according to the Star-Telegram. "He's been my friend since high school.
"But Carmelo's got to do what's best for Carmelo. And only he's going to make that whole decision by himself.''
In exchange for Felton and Chandler, the Knicks received point guards Jose Calderon, Shane Larkin, shooting guard Wayne Ellington, center Samuel Dalembert and two future second-round draft picks from the Mavs.
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