Felton signs one year deal to stay in Charlotte

Raymond Felton did not get all that he wanted, but he has decided to stay in Charlotte.  The Latta product signed the Bobcats’s one-year, $5.5 million qualifying offer on Wednesday after the restricted free agent was unable to come to teams on a long-term contract.

The move means the Bobcats starting point guard will report on time to training camp next week, then become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Felton averaged 14.2 points and 6.7 assists last season and won over new coach Larry Brown, who said keeping Felton was a top offseason priority. Felton also repeatedly said he wanted to stay in Charlotte and sign a long-term deal.  The deal gets done just five days before the start of Bobcats camp.

Felton will be under pressure to help Charlotte reach the playoffs for the first time—and hold off D.J. Augustin for the starting job this season.

Felton will now become part of what could be the biggest free-agent class in NBA history next summer with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and others.