Knicks point guard Felton quieting Paul talk
NEW ORLEANS - When Raymond Felton signed a two-year contract with the Knicks this past summer, he knew it could appear as if he were just keeping the point guard seat warm until 2012, when All-Stars such as Chris Paul and Deron Williams are eligible for free agency.
In fact, before Felton signed, Paul already had hinted of plans regarding New York when he raised a toast at Carmelo Anthony's wedding in July and suggested he and Anthony join Amar'e Stoudemire to form the Knicks' own Big Three.
But Felton, on the eve of facing Paul and the Hornets ,, said he wasn't thinking about what could happen in two years.
"I'm here now, I'm here to stay,'' he said at the Knicks' training facility in Greenburgh. "So we'll see what happens. If it happens, it happens. It's a business."
The Knicks made overtures for Paul, just as they did for Anthony, during the offseason, but the conversation was brief and fruitless. There still is hope within the organization that the Knicks, with plenty of salary-cap flexibility, eventually can make Paul's toast come true by acquiring both players in the next two years. Anthony can opt out of his contract after this season and Paul can opt out in 2012.
"I haven't talked to Carmelo, to tell you the truth,'' Paul told reporters after practice. "I have no clue. All I can do is worry about Chris Paul's future, and right now my future is to shower and go pick up my son from school. That's about it.''
With a 13-5 start to the season under rookie coach (and former Knick) Monty Williams, Paul seems to be pacified for the time being.
"I don't regret anything during the summer,'' he said. "I think everything that happens makes you stronger. Now I'm just happy to be on a great team that's playing well right now.''
Paul didn't deny making the toast, but he downplayed it in a recent interview with Sports Illustrated.
"We was there having a good time,'' Paul said of the wedding, which also was attended by Stoudemire and took place two days after LeBron James' decision to join forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. "You're joking around; all different types of stuff is said.''
Felton has tried to block out the talk, not just about Paul but also the daily reminders about how well Steve Nash used to run the pick-and-roll with Stoudemire.
But after a rocky start, Felton - who is averaging 18.2 points and 8.1 assists and has posted double-doubles in three of his last four games - is showing signs of developing a comfort level with Stoudemire.
"No question, we are definitely comfortable with each other now," Felton said. "It can get better. I want it to get better. But at the same time, at this point, we are doing a great job with one another."
And right now, for the first time in years, the Knicks, who have won seven of their last eight, aren't talking about a player they don't have but one they actually do.
"Raymond is playing as well as anybody," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We're really happy with what we've got."
Notes & quotes: Landry Fields was named Eastern Conference rookie of the month for November. The second-round pick averaged 10.8 points and 7.2 rebounds . . . Ronny Turiaf, who has missed the last two games with a knee sprain, will be a game-time decision.
The Dolan family owns controlling interests in the Knicks, MSG and Cablevision. Cablevision owns Newsday.
