Dallas Mavericks point guard Raymond Felton. (Photo : Getty Images)
Incoming free agent point guard Raymond Felton reportedly wants to stay with the Dallas Mavericks next season even though he has attracted the interest of several teams this summer.
The 31-year-old, 11-year veteran had just finished the final year of his four-year, $14.8 million deal he got from his former team, the New York Knicks, in 2012-2013 as he becomes an unrestricted free agent this July. It carried over to Dallas from 2014-2015 after he was traded along with Tyson Chandler for Shane Larkin, Wayne Ellington, José Calderón, Samuel Dalembert, and the 34th and 51st picks in the 2014 NBA draft during the summer of 2014.
With his impending free-agency just a few days away and rumors that his services as a reliable backup floor general are in demand, Felton had clearly expressed his position at the moment.
"Of course, this is where I want to be," he told the Star-Telegram on Thursday, talking about his desire to re-sign with the Mavs. "I would love to come back here, so hopefully we can make that happen."
Felton had become Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle's most trusted veteran playmakers in the recent season. He suited up in all but two games of 2015-2016 and was able to start 31 of them, averaging 9.5 points, 3.2 boards, and 3.6 assists in 27.4 minutes of play per night.
He was even more effective during the postseason when he averaged a playoff career-high of 15.0 points and 4.6 rebounds with 4.6 dimes as well, playing in 34.4 minutes a game. His field goal shooting of 46.4 percent is also a playoff career-high.
"I think overall we had a good year," said Felton said of their 42-40 regular season and first round loss to West finalists Oklahoma City Thunder. "Maybe not quite the way we wanted it to end, and as an individual I think I did what I needed to do."
"I wish we could've been still playing right now, but that's not the case," he added.
Meanwhile, Fansided noted that the Mavs should not repeat their past mistakes of taking advantage of players who convey their wish to stay with the club by "chasing other players first" during free-agency than prioritizing to re-sign their existing ones.
The report also mentioned Felton's effectiveness as a backup at both guard positions, something that Dallas needs to continue to be a force in the packed Western Conference.
