Raymond Felton Season Review: Filling a longstanding void
Free Agency:
Felton is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but indicated he wants to be back in OKC.
Felton says he doesn't know what his future holds but says, "I would love to be back, to be a Thunder. That's for sure."
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) April 28, 2018
Even as Felton approaches age 34, the Thunder need to bring him back. There’s a reason the Thunder have had a difficult time finding backup point guards over the years. Most young players don’t want to be stuck behind Westbrook, and most older players that have a choice don’t want to come to Oklahoma City. The Thunder found their perfect match in Felton and need to bring him back at all costs, even if it means paying slightly more than the minimum.
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Felton’s main assignment this offseason is to stay in shape. He’s battled weight issues for portions of his career. The Thunder can’t have Felton show up to camp five to ten pounds overweight. Hopefully, if he commits to the Thunder early enough in the offseason, they can help him train and be in tip-top shape for the 2019 season.
In terms of improving play, the only issue can be his shot selection at times. But like Westbrook, having been in the league for so long, it’s going to be incredibly difficult for him to reverse some of his habits. Hopefully, he can look at some of the film and understand the team does a whole lot better when the ball is being whipped around the court and not stuck in one man’s hands.
It seems crazy to say, but Felton is arguably the team’s second best backup point guard in franchise history behind Reggie Jackson. He was a breath of fresh air following a revolving door of young, inexperienced guards that had no interest in sitting behind Westbrook.