The Los Angeles Clippers have completed their backcourt after agreeing to a minimum deal with former Dallas Mavericks point guard Raymond Felton.
After seeing Pablo Prigioni agree to a two-year deal with the Houston Rockets, it became official that the Los Angeles Clippers would be looking for their new third point guard to come off the bench behind Austin Rivers. It was always expected that they’d be looking for a new veteran acquisition on a minimum deal, and now they have their guy in Raymond Felton.
The exact details of the deal are unknown at this stage, but Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com reported the agreement.
Free agent guard Raymond Felton reaches agreement with Clippers, league sources inform @clevelanddotcom.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 14, 2016
Felton will be receiving a minimum contract of around $1.55 million as that’s all the Clippers have to offer, with a two-year deal, including a player option on the second year, being a fairly likely assumption (just like Marreese Speights‘ deal, for example).
After going through some down seasons recently, from being dealt away from New York a couple of years ago to appearing in only 29 games and averaging 3.7 points a night in 2014-15 with the Dallas Mavericks, Felton has been criticized fairly frequently by basketball fans. Thanks to some of the issues he’s had with conditioning in the past, the jokes flow pretty freely.
However, in 27.4 minutes per game and 31 starts last season, Felton had a bounce back year in better shape.
He shot a disappointing 28.2 percent from three, continuing a cool trend from deep that has been the case throughout his career, but his energy improved and the Mavericks and their fans were more appreciative of what he had to offer. In a crowded point guard rotation, Felton was able to deliver as a level-headed veteran and set up the offense with enough help on defense, which all help make up for his limitations as a shooter.
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He had some big moments in the playoffs this year as well, providing 15 points per game on 46.4 percent shooting.
After playing such a notable role for the Mavs, Felton will be more than capable to take over the spot minutes that Prigioni played for the Clippers last season. Such experience from Felton also creates the opportunity to use him more than Prigioni was and give Rivers more time at shooting guard, providing the kind of depth that will only help through the year.
Now that Felton is in, the Clippers have 14 guaranteed contracts after Diamond Stone officially signed his rookie deal. Whether or not Paul Pierce retires is yet to be seen, but this either means that Branden Dawson will be gone or David Michineau will be playing overseas in France again next season, with the latter seeming more likely.
Next: Why on earth would Clippers trade Blake for Rudy Gay?
On a minimum deal with other intriguing targets being snatched up quickly, the Clippers have a solid signing in Raymond Felton to complete their backcourt, even with the concern of his three-point game.