The case for Raymond Felton as the Pistons backup point guard
By David Topham
The Detroit Pistons didn’t get themselves a true point guard in the draft, so who are they going to target in free agency? A veteran presence like Raymond Felton could fit the bill.
Raymond Felton could be the answer at backup point guard for the Detroit Pistons. Wow. There’s a sentence I never thought I’d type post 2012. But in all seriousness, a compelling case can be made.
The draft is in the books and a true point guard didn’t come Detroit’s way, but Henry Ellenson did. While the rookie will certainly push for playing time, Stan Van Gundy isn’t banking on him for instant help.
So, while backup point guard is going to be the Pistons’ top priority in free agency, they are going to target a veteran power forward as well. Expect them to use their approximately $15.5 million in cap space (that’s assuming they decline Joel Anthony’s $2.5 million option) to address both positions.
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Because the salary cap is projected to be $94 million next season, there are about to be some crazy numbers thrown around this summer. It might make it difficult for the Pistons to sign two desirable players for those spots.
While talk of Jeremy Lin and Brandon Jennings is exciting, I don’t see how the Pistons can make monetarily-enticing offers to guys of that caliber. They are going to command so much more than Detroit will be able to offer.
This is where a guy like Raymond Felton enters the picture. Felton is not very exciting, but he represents a feasible and affordable backup point guard option.
Although the 11-year vet has put together a rock solid NBA career thus far, he is best known for the time he was fat (by the way, he’s sick of your fat jokes). But he did his best to change the narrative with the Mavericks last season.
After injuries limited him to just 29 games in his first year with Dallas in 2014-2015, Felton bounced back in a huge way this past season. In what was his first season as (mainly) a reserve (80 games, 31 starts), he averaged 9.5 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game, and 3.6 assists per game in 27.4 minutes. In the postseason, he started four out of the Mavs’ five games and improved his line to 15.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
Now Felton heads to free agency, and perhaps he will be somebody the Pistons are interested in because of his price tag, veteran status, and ability to operate the pick and roll.
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Van Gundy’s offense heavily relies on the spread pick and roll. Reggie Jackson led the league in possessions where he was the ball handler in a pick and roll, per NBA.com. Felton operated as a pick and roll ball handler 396 times last season, which was 33rd in the NBA, 22nd amongst point guards, and 3rd amongst backup point guards.
Ultimately, Felton scored the 37th most points in the league as a pick and roll ball handler last season. His pick and rolls netted 0.78 points per possession, a mark just below Lin and just above other free agent point guards Ty Lawson, Seth Curry and Donald Sloan.
The numbers certainly indicate that Felton is comfortable with and sufficiently effective in running a high volume of pick and rolls. And because he could be had for cheaper than certain other free agent point guards, the Pistons could be legitimately interested in Raymond Felton as their backup point guard.
Next: How will Ellenson impact Detroit Pistons in rookie year?
It’s concerning that he has shot under 30% from three over his past 109 games, but fans are beyond done with Steve Blake, a career 38% three point shooter, because he wasn’t effective in other facets of the game. Felton can be, and certainly was last season, which makes him an interesting and viable option.