Lebron23
06-28-2016, 08:50 AM
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LeBron James was an inspiration ... now he’s a teammate
Twice in the past two years, LeBron James has witnessed firsthand Kay Felder’s ability to sway the outcome of games. Knowing one of basketball’s best was in the house, the former Oakland guard performed well both times, scoring 16 points in a 2015 win in Rochester and posting a double-double in another victory last February at Cleveland State.
“I looked over at him a few times,” Felder said. “Just to be like, did you see that?”
James, whose Cavaliers selected Felder with the 54th overall pick in Thursday’s NBA draft, might have seen.
Either way, the 21-year-old guard now will have a wider window of opportunity in which to impress the leader of the NBA champions.
Felder still must make Cleveland’s roster this fall, but his odds seem high after the organization paid the Atlanta Hawks $2.4 million to acquire the pick. The significance of that move wasn’t lost on Felder, even during the madness of a draft-night celebration featuring 180 friends, teammates and family members at a nightclub in Detroit.
“That means a lot to give up all that money for one pick,” Felder said. “Man — I owe them. They gave up a lot for that pick, and I need to come in there ready to work from Day 1.”
The situation is ideal in every respect, according to Oakland coach Greg Kampe. Felder is moving to a city reveling in its first professional sports title in 52 years. In the wake of the championship, James announced he’d be returning to Cleveland at least for next season and said that as things currently stand, he has no intention of leaving again.
Matthew Dellavedova, who has served as the Cavaliers’ backup point guard behind Kyrie Irving the past three seasons, is seen among the more likely players to sign with another team, which could make Felder’s path to the roster and a role in the rotation easier.
The financial side of being picked by Cleveland also appears to aid Felder. The second-round contract won’t include guaranteed money, but Kampe said it might as well given the lengths Cleveland went in order to bring him aboard.
“What happened is the best thing that could happen, because Cleveland had no draft picks and paid over $2 million to get him,” Kampe said. “That’s almost like a guaranteed contract, because you just put $2 million out there to get a pick. You’re probably going to give him a real good chance.”
Besides, there’s the matter of playing with James and for a team that almost certainly will reach the playoffs for the foreseeable future. The various considerations pan out beautifully for Felder, financially and in terms of the roster outlook.
“He’s got the greatest player in the world right now on his team,” Kampe said. “They need help at the point, they’ve been in the Finals the last two years. As long as LeBron’s there, they’re going to have a chance to be back. He’s got playoff money coming. It’s just a great situation. You can’t beat it.”
Felder, at 5 feet 9, has had to ignore those who used his height as a means of assuming he wouldn’t cut it at the next level. Those assumptions likely will follow him to the NBA, where his height will be a more pronounced disadvantage.
Then again, Kampe said Felder might have found a home where height is no concern. And if there is criticism, it’s nothing Felder hasn’t heard before.
“I think he’ll respond great, but I think Cleveland told him he is tall enough. They told me they thought he was a first-round pick, and they didn’t have a pick, but if they did, they would take him. What they said was true.”
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/2016/06/26/kay-felder-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-draft/86419908/
LeBron James was an inspiration ... now he’s a teammate
Twice in the past two years, LeBron James has witnessed firsthand Kay Felder’s ability to sway the outcome of games. Knowing one of basketball’s best was in the house, the former Oakland guard performed well both times, scoring 16 points in a 2015 win in Rochester and posting a double-double in another victory last February at Cleveland State.
“I looked over at him a few times,” Felder said. “Just to be like, did you see that?”
James, whose Cavaliers selected Felder with the 54th overall pick in Thursday’s NBA draft, might have seen.
Either way, the 21-year-old guard now will have a wider window of opportunity in which to impress the leader of the NBA champions.
Felder still must make Cleveland’s roster this fall, but his odds seem high after the organization paid the Atlanta Hawks $2.4 million to acquire the pick. The significance of that move wasn’t lost on Felder, even during the madness of a draft-night celebration featuring 180 friends, teammates and family members at a nightclub in Detroit.
“That means a lot to give up all that money for one pick,” Felder said. “Man — I owe them. They gave up a lot for that pick, and I need to come in there ready to work from Day 1.”
The situation is ideal in every respect, according to Oakland coach Greg Kampe. Felder is moving to a city reveling in its first professional sports title in 52 years. In the wake of the championship, James announced he’d be returning to Cleveland at least for next season and said that as things currently stand, he has no intention of leaving again.
Matthew Dellavedova, who has served as the Cavaliers’ backup point guard behind Kyrie Irving the past three seasons, is seen among the more likely players to sign with another team, which could make Felder’s path to the roster and a role in the rotation easier.
The financial side of being picked by Cleveland also appears to aid Felder. The second-round contract won’t include guaranteed money, but Kampe said it might as well given the lengths Cleveland went in order to bring him aboard.
“What happened is the best thing that could happen, because Cleveland had no draft picks and paid over $2 million to get him,” Kampe said. “That’s almost like a guaranteed contract, because you just put $2 million out there to get a pick. You’re probably going to give him a real good chance.”
Besides, there’s the matter of playing with James and for a team that almost certainly will reach the playoffs for the foreseeable future. The various considerations pan out beautifully for Felder, financially and in terms of the roster outlook.
“He’s got the greatest player in the world right now on his team,” Kampe said. “They need help at the point, they’ve been in the Finals the last two years. As long as LeBron’s there, they’re going to have a chance to be back. He’s got playoff money coming. It’s just a great situation. You can’t beat it.”
Felder, at 5 feet 9, has had to ignore those who used his height as a means of assuming he wouldn’t cut it at the next level. Those assumptions likely will follow him to the NBA, where his height will be a more pronounced disadvantage.
Then again, Kampe said Felder might have found a home where height is no concern. And if there is criticism, it’s nothing Felder hasn’t heard before.
“I think he’ll respond great, but I think Cleveland told him he is tall enough. They told me they thought he was a first-round pick, and they didn’t have a pick, but if they did, they would take him. What they said was true.”
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/2016/06/26/kay-felder-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-draft/86419908/