Raymond Felton To Knicks, Pacers Continue Weighing Point Guard Options

Raymond Felton was near if not at the top of the Indiana Pacers' wish list for additional point guard help this offseason. But thanks to LeBron James settling down in Miami, there are several teams flush with cap space to spend , and the New York Knicks decided to use some of their vast cap space to lock up Felton with a two-year $15.8 million contract.

The Pacers would've had to pull off a sign-and-trade deal with Charlotte to come close to paying that much for Felton and that's if you make the assumption Felton (and Charlotte) would agree to the deal.

So the Pacers continue to hold their assets (expiring contracts) until the right type of player is available. After the promising summer play of their young players, the urgency seems to have ebbed to add a specific player but some current players will have to be moved or released to bring in anyone new while also making room for all three rookies.

After the jump, a few links of interest including Mike Wells and Chris Tomasson reporting on Bird's offseason intentions along with Donnie Walsh straightening out the record. Also, Mavs' owner Mark Cuban raises a valid point about player collusion in regard to LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

• Pacers' work in free agency just beginning
  Mike Wells reports on Larry Bird and David Morway getting into the heart of their offseason dealings now that big fish have signed.
• Pacers' Bird Cautious About Free Agents
  Chris Tomasson checks in with Larry Bird on the Pacers offseason.
• NBA free agency: Luther Head, New Orleans Hornets agree to two-year deal
  Marc Stein's report on Luther Head signing with the Hornets.
• Mark Cuban applauds Dan Gilbert, wonders about player tampering
  Eddie Sefko reports on a legit issue about player tampering raise by Mark Cuban over the LeBron, D-Wade and Bosh collusion.
• Not ready to retire, Walsh continues push to land next big fish - NBA - CBSSports.com Basketball
  Donnie Walsh took a hard swing at LeBron James and missed. But his efforts didn't go for naught: The Knicks president in the process positioned N.Y. to lure top free agents down the road, Ken Berger says.

• Looking Forward to the Future?
  Jeremiah Johnson spends a slow sports news day pondering the future of the NBA among other things.