The New York Knicks' season continues to go from bad to worse. The team is fresh off the release of Metta World Peace and Beno Udrih. They are in the midst of another losing streak after a buzzer-beating defeat by the Dallas Mavericks. Now, Raymond Felton has been arrested, causing major issues going forward.
According to the New York Police Department, Felton was arrested early Tuesday morning on three counts of criminal possession of weapons. Felton was charged with second- and third-degree criminal possession of a firearm which are felonies. The point guard was not using the weapons in a "menacing Manner" but simply possessing a gun that was not registered to him is illegal.
The punishment for Felton is currently unknown. Back in 2009, Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress was charged in a similar fashion and served two years in prison after accepting a plea deal. As of now, Felton is facing 3 ½ years if convicted. It is safe to assume the NBA will suspend Felton for at least a period of time, leaving the Knicks even more empty handed than before.
Felton was certainly not living up to his potential this season. He was struggling in the offense, forcing the team to try and trade him before the deadline which did not work out. He is currently signed to a three-year, $10 million contract that was given before the 2012-13 season.
So with that, the Knicks have roster spots to fill. With limited money to work with, the team cannot offer much, but will at least try and get a few bodies on the court. Right now, the best players available were just released by the Knicks. The team will wait around and likely go after Ben Gordon and Danny Granger if both players are released.
Sam Amick of USA Today is reporting the Philadelphia 76ers are expected to finalize a buyout for Granger in the next 24 hours. The small forward could fill the spot of World Peace and be a big upgrade on the roster. If Granger does hit the free agent market, every team will go after him. The Knicks likely cannot offer a favorable deal nor do they have a winning record as leverage.
Ben Gordon could be an option to fill the stats of Felton if he is indeed suspended. The Charlotte Bobcats are toying with the idea of letting the guard hit the market. Despite his down numbers, Gordon still has enough talent to put up some numbers that the Knicks need.
