Portland Trail Blazers point guard Raymond Felton joined Blazers Broadcasting's Mike Barrett, Mike Rice and Brian Wheeler for a brief interview on a Monday night episode of Blazers Courtside. Video here.
(Note: Wheeler is now on Twitter here.)
During the interview, Felton reiterated a desire to re-sign with the Blazers when he becomes a free agent this summer.
"The way they welcomed me into this city and into this organization, it doesn't get no better," Felton said. "I definitely want to be here for the years coming."
Felton, 27, is in the final year of a 2-year contract worth $15.8 million signed with the New York Knicks during the summer of 2010 after he spent his first five seasons with the Charlotte Bobcats. He was traded to the Denver Nuggets in advance of last season's trade deadline and then to the Blazers on the night of the 2011 NBA Draft.
"[Portland] is a place that has inquired about me before, when I was with other teams. Just to know that a team wants you and respects and understands what you bring to the game, what you can bring to their team and their organization it kind of gives you a warm feeling. I've been through a lot these last couple of years. Being in Charlotte, not signing back there. Going to New York, then getting traded from New York to Denver in the same year. Now being in Portland."
Felton is averaging 10.4 points, 6.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game in eight appearances so far this season. He's shooting 34.8 percent from the field and 12.0 percent from deep.
He said that improvement in his shooting numbers will come with time.
"I mean that's something I'm not really worried about," Felton said. "Trust me, I've been frustrated. As long as we win, all that stuff will take care of itself later on. It's still early in the season for me to stress out. I'm not really worried about that but, at the same time, I go into the gym at night and get my shots, I still go through my routine, sometimes the ball just doesn't go in the hole for you. I think it will keep going. As long as I keep my confidence, which I will do, and continue to take my shots it will start falling."
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter