Charlotte Hornets: Top Ten Draftees in Team History

Nov 5, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) blocks a shot by Dallas Mavericks guard Raymond Felton (2) during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Number Six: Raymond Felton

Drafted: 2005
Pick: 1st Round, 5th Pick

Going into the 2005 Draft there was a lot of talk of deep it was. The general consensus was that Utah center Andrew Bogut was the top prize with North Carolina forward Marvin Williams leading the upside movement at number two.

The Bobcats were looking for a point guard to replace an aging Brevin Knight. They had the fifth pick and a good shot at one of three guys who were all good in college. That would have been Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Raymond Felton. There were questions on whether the Bobcats would trade the 5th and 13th picks in order to move up in the draft to get Paul or Williams. Ultimately they stayed put and ended up with North Carolina’s Felton. Felton would be the team’s point guard until the Bobcats made the playoffs in 2009-10.

Ultimately the team opted not to resign Felton at that point and he ended up on the Knicks in the off season. Felton’s value can be best measured by Coach Larry Brown’s reaction to having the guard.

When Brown arrived he pushed the front office to give him a different point guard, leading to the selection of D.J. Augustin. When Felton left, Brown was sorry to see him go.

Felton averaged 13 points and six assists over five years in Charlotte. He was the engine of the Brown teams that included Boris Diaw, Stephen Jackson, and Gerald Wallace. My personal favorite Bobcats roster was the one that just missed the playoffs the year before with Felton, Raja Bell, Diaw, Wallace, and Emeka Okafor.

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