Raymond Felton Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Blazers Notes: Mills, Batum, Felton

March 16th, 2012 at 8:07am CST by Luke Adams

The Trail Blazers were one of Thursday's most active teams, sending out Marcus Camby and Gerald Wallace in separate deals, then parting ways with Chris Johnson and former number one pick Greg Oden to clear space for the new acquisitions. Oh, and the team fired its coach too, with assistant coach Kaleb Canales taking over for Nate McMillan. What's next for the Blazers? Let's have a look….

Patrick Mills, who played in China this season, is a restricted free agent and could be brought on board for the rest of the season. However, acting GM Chris Buchanan indicated the team isn't looking at bringing anyone on board at the moment: "We're at 12 healthy bodies. It's an opportunity for guys to get some more minutes. At this point I wouldn't anticipate us adding another player" (link via Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge).
Asked specifically about Mills, Buchanan said the team would take to his representatives in the coming days, and would consider all its options, including renouncing Mills' rights. Renouncing his rights would allow Mills to become an unrestricted free agent and sign anywhere.
Nicolas Batum, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, will "definitely" be a Blazer next year, tweets Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. However, it'll cost the team more than what Batum's agent was asking for in January.
After shopping Raymond Felton aggressively yesterday, Buchanan says a buyout for the point guard "is not an option," according to Haynes.

Blazers Don’t Find Deal For Raymond Felton

March 15th, 2012 at 1:52pm CST by Luke Adams

Raymond Felton won't be moved before the deadline, according to Joe Freeman of The Oregonian (via Twitter). The Blazers were pushing hard to make a deal, having called every team today, tweets Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com.

If Portland had been able to find a taker for Felton, it would've been the team's third deal of the day. They've already sent Gerald Wallace to New Jersey and Marcus Camby to Houston.

Jamal Crawford Rumors: Tuesday

March 13th, 2012 at 3:13pm CST by Luke Adams

While the chatter about Raymond Felton has been "very light" in recent days, according to Ben Tolliver of Blazer's Edge, Felton's teammate Jamal Crawford still seems to be drawing significant interest. Yesterday we heard the Trail Blazers had discussed D.J. Augustin with the Bobcats, and had talks with the Clippers involving Eric Bledsoe and Ryan Gomes. Today's Crawford rumblings can be found below, with the newest items added up top throughout the day:

The Blazers haven't been able to secure a first-round pick in any offers for Crawford, and are thought to be "cooling" on the idea of moving him, tweets Ken Berger of CBS Sports.
The Clippers' interest in Crawford hinges on the Blazers taking Gomes' contract, which Portland is unlikely to do, tweets Golliver.
Crawford talked to Joe Freeman of The Oregonian about the trade rumors, saying that if it were up to him, he'd remain in Portland: "At the end of the day, I chose to come here. I want to be here. I don't know how to approach the situation, honestly. I haven't talked to anybody in the organization. I'm just trying to stay ready for whatever. Hopefully we can finish what we started. If not, well, it's a business."

Minimal Interest In Felton; Trade Unlikely

March 13th, 2012 at 1:49pm CST by Luke Adams

Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge reported earlier today that chatter surrounding Raymond Felton has been "very light" over the last few days (Twitter link). Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com backs up that report, writing that the Blazers have contacted all 29 NBA teams to gauge the interest in Felton, finding minimal interest.

According to Haynes, there's currently an offer for Felton on the table. However, Portland doesn't figure to accept that deal unless the Blazers' next two games before the deadline are a disaster.

Ken Berger of CBS Sports reported yesterday that rival execs felt the Blazers may have some interest in trading Felton to the Lakers for Steve Blake and another piece, but Haynes couldn't confirm whether such a proposal is the one the Blazers are currently weighing (Twitter link).

Berger’s Latest: Felton, Blake, Okafor, Gasol

March 12th, 2012 at 3:49pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are a few trade updates from Ken Berger of CBSSports.com:

Rival executives believe the Blazers are interested in trading Raymond Felton to the Lakers for Steve Blake. Since Portland would be giving up the better player and some salary flexibility, the Blazers would need to be compensated with another piece in such a deal.
The Hornets aren't interested in packaging Emeka Okafor with the first-round pick they acquired from the Timberwolves, even if it means saving the $28MM+ left on his deal.
The Hawks appear likely to make only a small move or two at the deadline.
Pau Gasol could be traded in the right deal, but the Lakers will need to ensure it's a basketball upgrade rather than a cost-saver. "If they're going to send a message to Kobe Bryant that they're not about winning, they're about money," one league source told Berger. "That's going to set off a whole new deal."
Berger also has an update on the Jamal Crawford trade talks, as we covered earlier.

Blazers Rumors: Felton, Wallace, Crawford

March 9th, 2012 at 2:39pm CST by Luke Adams

As the Trail Blazers look to return to .500 tonight in Boston, here are a few Friday rumors out of Portland:

Like most other teams, the Blazers won't make any trades that compromise their long-term plans, as acting GM Chad Buchanan tells Joe Freeman of The Oregonian.
Within Freeman's piece, a source says the market for Raymond Felton is "soft" and that shopping Gerald Wallace has been a challenge as well — since Wallace has a pricey player option for next season, teams who just want to rent him are worried he'll exercise the option, while teams who would prefer to keep him next season are concerned he'll opt out.
Freeman notes that if Wallace and Jamal Crawford decline their player options, and the Blazers hang on to the expiring contracts of Felton and Marcus Camby, the team could have about $23MM in cap space this summer. So Portland's not necessarily feeling pressure to make a deal.
Freeman doesn't believe the Blazers are interested in Jose Calderon, but thinks Eric Bledsoe would make a good trade target (Twitter links).
Peter Vecsey of the New York Post says the Timberwolves aren't going to send Luke Ridnour to Portland in order to acquire Crawford. The two sides had reportedly discussed a trade involving those two players.

Blazers Interested In Jose Calderon

March 8th, 2012 at 7:26pm CST by Sean Highkin

With point guard Raymond Felton underperforming, the Trail Blazers are looking to shore up their backcourt ahead of next week's trade deadline. And while their name has been in the mix for names such as Steve Nash, Rajon Rondo, Luke Ridnour, and Steve Blake, Hasan Alanam of Canada.com points to their reported interest in Raptors point guard Jose Calderon and explores several trade scenarios.

Alanam mentions possible trades involving Felton and either Gerald Wallace or Jamal Crawford, with Portland possibly also taking back Linas Klezia. In one scenario, the Timberwolves participate in a three-team deal with Malcolm Lee going to Portland and Anthony Randolph going to Toronto.

Calderon is making approximately $9.8MM this season and has one year left on his contract, which will pay him $10.5MM in 2012/13. He is averaging 10.7 PPG and 8.7 APG this season.

Raymond Felton Addresses Trade Rumors

March 6th, 2012 at 10:04am CST by Luke Adams

Raymond Felton posted a double-double in his return to the starting lineup last night, as his 11 points and 10 assists helped earn the Trail Blazers a home victory. After the game, Felton got some questions about his play on the court, but also talked plenty about the trade rumors surrounding him as March 15th approaches. The point guard told reporters, including Joe Freeman of the Oregonian, that he'd like to remain a Blazer for at least the rest of the season (Twitter link).

"I still like this team that we have," Felton said. "We have a young team, a lot of young guys that can really play. I definitely still want to be here."

Having been part of the Carmelo Anthony blockbuster at last year's deadline and then traded again in June, Felton is no stranger to trade rumors. The 27-year-old acknowledged that bouncing from team to team can be frustrating, but said that he was determined not to let the whispers bother him.

"I do understand it's a business," Felton told reporters, including Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge. "I just don't worry about it. I see guys go through it, stressed out about trade rumors. I'm not going to be that guy. Oh yeah, it bothers them real bad. It's not going to be me."

The Lakers have reportedly engaged in "exploratory talks" with the Blazers about the possibility of acquiring Felton, who was profiled as a trade candidate by Hoops Rumors' Chuck Myron last week.

Odds & Ends: Felton, Simmons, Chandler, Pistons

March 5th, 2012 at 3:01pm CST by Luke Adams

With ten days left until the 2012 NBA trade deadline, most columnists are looking ahead to next Thursday, exploring every possible scenario for moves contenders and non-contenders could make. Amidst all the trade speculation, Derek Page of HoopsWorld decides to look back at the offseason, assessing which trades and free agent signings have worked out best and worst so far this year, placing Chris Paul and Tyson Chandler atop the list of successes. Here are a few more Monday links from around the NBA:

Raymond Felton, who Page named one of the season's worst acquisitions, will start for the Blazers tonight, according to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. Given Jamal Crawford's success as a starter, it's unclear why Felton has been re-inserted into the starting five, but coach Nate McMillan insists it's not about showcasing Felton, tweets Joe Freeman of the Oregonian. I'm skeptical.
The Clippers expect to sign Bobby Simmons to a second 10-day contract, reports Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
At SheridanHoops, Chris Sheridan lists a number of traded draft picks that could be important at this season's deadline.
Wilson Chandler and the Nuggets are still talking about a contract for the restricted free agent, but there's nothing new to report, says Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post (via Twitter).
Keith Langlois fields a handful of questions about potential Pistons trades in a Pistons.com mailbag.

Lakers, Trail Blazers Discussing Deal For Felton

March 4th, 2012 at 4:55pm CST by Michael Pina

According to CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes, the Lakers and Trail Blazers are in "exploratory talks" regarding Raymond Felton. This rumor sprouted last week via a string of tweets from Larry Coon, but this is the first official word we've heard of Steve Blake being a possible piece in the deal. The offer has yet to "get off the ground," but both teams are interested.

Felton has struggled mightily this season, putting up the worst shooting numbers of his career from both the field and three-point line. He's been benched and has had several verbal spats with Portland coach Nate McMillan in the season's first few months. But Los Angeles is desperate for youth at the point guard position, they have a trade exception Felton's contract would fit inside, and a change of scenery may do good for both teams.

In 23 games this year, Blake is shooting 34% on three-pointers, which would be the second worst mark of his nine-year career if it holds up throughout the season.

Our Chuck Myron covered Felton as a potential trade candidate last week.