By Nina Mandell
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — They missed out on LeBron James, but the Knicks are close to signing point guard Raymond Felton.
A deal is close to being signed which will bring the former Charlotte Bobcat to Madison Square Garden, according to reports.
Felton averaged 12.1 points and 5.6 assists per game for the Bobcats last year. While his signing would be welcomed by the Knicks, they are still angling sign Chris Paul or Tony Parker in next year’s free agent craze.
The move is an attempt to buoy fans' optimism after the Knicks failed to sign James. Season tickets were being sold for face value - and below - on Friday after the superstar announced he was going to Miami.
Felton’s deal is believed to be worth $25 million over three years, the New York Daily News said, while ESPN.com estimates it to be closer to $7 million a year to start.
Meanwhile, the Knicks officially bid farewell to David Lee as he headed to Golden State in the sign-and-trade deal that brought Amar’e Stoudemire to the Knicks. The Knicks also received forwards Anthony Randolph, Kelenna Azubuike and Ronny Turiaf in the deal.
Lee averaged 20.9 points and 11.7 rebound per game last season for the Knicks and was considered a bright spot in a downtrodden year for the team.
But Knicks president Donnie Walsh told reporters the team was already looking towards the 2011 free agent class that includes Paul, Parker and Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony.
"I think we're done as far as jumping into the free-agent market," he told reporters on a conference call. "We will have flexibility next year and we will have flexibility the year after."
