Noel Felix Update

[Kori Ellis]

Update on my friend Noel Felix ... he just got hurt in practice and is on the way to the hospital for xrays.

I'm so freakin' mad/sad right now.

Pray that it's nothing bad and doesn't stop him from playing in the rest of the preseason games. He's so close to the NBA. :(

[easjer]

Oh, Kori, goodness. Who was he playing with (I don't remember)? When will you know more?

[ChumpDumper]

He's on the bubble in Seattle. He calls her quite often. I really hope he gets well soon, but even if he doesn't I think he has made a few short lists for replacement players.

I hear Phoenix might need a power forwrd....

[Kori Ellis]

He's playing for the Sonics.

He's messaging me from the hospital as he waits for the doctor. So I'll know as soon as he's done. He hasn't had the xrays yet.

He got a tip dunk in the scrimmage (he had just moved up to the A-list scrimmage team) and he came down on Robert Swift's foot.

[Obi wan Ginobili]

That freaking SUCKS!

Best of luck to him.

[Solid D]

Knee? Foot?

[picnroll]

Ankle?

[Kori Ellis]

I think it's foot. So far I only have a couple of text messages. I'm waiting.

[easjer]

Oh, gosh, I hope he's just tweaked something. Prayers are being said.

[Kori Ellis]

Thanks. I told him that I'm asking everyone I know for prayers. Hopefully it helps :)

[Horry For 3!]

Good luck to him. Hopefully it isn't anything back.

[angel_luv]

Thanks. I told him that I'm asking everyone I know for prayers. Hopefully it helps :)

I'm sure it already is. :)

[Kori Ellis]

It's ankle.

He's still waiting for doctor/xrays.

[Kori Ellis]

Xrays negative.

[Obi wan Ginobili]

woohoo!!!

[spurschick]

Cool - hopefully he'll be up and running soon.

[Kori Ellis]

He says he's going to play tomorrow (they play the Suns) no matter what.

We'll see. I hope so.

[easjer]

Good news. Hope he's able to play safely and without further damage.

[Kori Ellis]

Good news. Hope he's able to play safely and without further damage.

The hospital doctor will fill in their trainer/coaching staff, so I don't think it will risky. I think he'll just have to tape heavily.

[angel_luv]

Thank God! That is good news! = )

[xcoriate]

thats a lucky break. Best of luck to him.

[SpursFreak1320]

nice

[xcoriate]

^^ hmmm. no pun intended

[Das Texan]

awesome to hear that he is doing alright.

good luck noel, we are rootin for you to achieve your dream!

[Steve-O-Matic]

Totally irrelevant....has NO shot at ever making the Spurs roster. That is beyond debate.

[Kori Ellis]

Totally irrelevant....has NO shot at ever making the Spurs roster. That is beyond debate.

:rolleyes

It's not about the Spurs. It's about the fact he's my friend and a friend of this forum.

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

Kori, do you know how training camp fodders get paid??

[ChumpDumper]

With checks.

Maybe direct deposit.

They all have minimum contracts that can be terminated at any time. If a player stays on the team past a certain date (specified by the contract or the league), the contract becomes guranteed for the season.

[Kori Ellis]

They all have minimum contracts that can be terminated at any time.

Yes, they all sign 2 year unguarantee contracts before training camp starts. And then, they are paid per diem during camp and preseason. Then I think they would get 1/82 of their annual salary for each game they play in the regular season if they are still on board and unguaranteed.

[angel_luv]

Kori, do you know how training camp fodders get paid??

Speaking of which, I have always wondered how our guys get paid and how often. Anyone know?

[Kori Ellis]

Update: He worked out at shoot around today. It hurts a little, but he should be fine. :tu Thanks to everyone for their good thoughts.

Weiss says he might play all their starters 30 mpg tonight, so there's a chance Noel doesn't play .. which is a good thing -- he can rest up and get ready for their next game on Monday. But he still might get in the game tonight, who knows.

[angel_luv]

Thanks for the update! Glad to hear he is well! = )

[ChumpDumper]

Great news!

[easjer]

Hope he's able to play a few, but rest won't be a bad thing either. Thanks for the update.

[Kori Ellis]

In the first half, he played 7 minutes, went 2-for-3 (both 18 footers) got a board, an assist and a steal.

So I guess his ankle is feeling fine :)

[Horry For 3!]

In the first half, he played 7 minutes, went 2-for-3 (both 18 footers) got a board, an assist and a steal.

So I guess his ankle is feeling fine :)
Thats good. :tu

[angel_luv]

Go Noel! = )

[Kori Ellis]

It looks like the Sonics are trying to keep Noel and Alex (or maybe Mateen) and might cut Rick Brunson's contract to do it.

You don't know how much this thrills me.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2002563804_soni16.html

Sonics notebook: Do Sonics keep Rick Brunson?

By Percy Allen
Seattle Times staff reporter

Quietly within the walls of the Sonics training facility and headquarters, executives and coaching staff are asking themselves if they can afford to throw away $1 million.

Newly signed Rick Brunson represents that $1 million. The nine-year veteran, who played with the Los Angeles Clippers last season, was signed to a one-year deal with the idea that he'd provide limited relief to Luke Ridnour at point guard.

After nearly two weeks of training camp and two preseason games, free-agent guards Alex Scales and Mateen Cleaves have outplayed Brunson, and free-agent forward Noel Felix has shown flashes of brilliance.

Forward Roger Powell, the other free agent in camp, has yet to make much of an impact and appears to have fallen to the back of the pack.

Coach Bob Weiss said it's too early to think about roster cuts and insisted that his decision to play Scales and not Brunson in Friday's 114-113 defeat to Phoenix doesn't mean he's making any definitive statements about the backup point-guard job.

But after most morning workouts, Weiss singled out Scales for his explosive ability to score inside and outside. Even Ray Allen noted that the free-agent guard was making a memorable impact.

"He has an NBA game," Allen said. "He deserves to be at this level. You see him out there, and he looks like he belongs."

Brunson was considered a lock to make the roster when the exhibition season began because the cash-strapped Sonics, who rank among the bottom third in the league in payroll at $46 million, were unlikely to eat such a large contract.

However, the cases for Scales, Felix and Cleaves are strengthening, while Brunson's testimony is weakening.

Initially, he'd been a vocal and steady performer in the early days of training camp, but in Wednesday's exhibition opener at Portland, he accounted for two turnovers and one assist in nine minutes.

Meanwhile, Scales impressed the coaching staff and earned an invitation to training camp this summer when he led the Sonics at the Rocky Mountain Revue with a 12.6 scoring average.

Against Portland, the 2000 Oregon graduate who spent the past two years in training camps with Houston and New Jersey, finished with 10 points, two rebounds and two steals. He managed seven points and three rebounds against Phoenix.

"It's good to see Alex get his chance because he's been close a few times, but has never quite made it," said Ridnour, who arrived at Oregon the year after Scales left. "Alex is a good player, and people here are starting to see what he can do."

The same might be said for Felix, who finished with four points and three rebounds in both exhibitions. Seemingly, the Sonics don't have room for Felix because they've got six forwards on the roster with guaranteed contracts.

But he could figure into their long-term plans assuming they lose either Vladimir Radmanovic or Reggie Evans, or both, to free agency next summer.

At 6 feet 9 and 225 pounds, Felix is a hybrid of both players. He's taller and shoots better than the 6-8 Evans, and he's a shade shorter, but a better defender, than the 6-10 Radmanovic.

Cleaves was a sparsely used reserve last season and is a favorite among players and coaches because of his calming and positive locker-room demeanor. He was believed to have been a strong candidate to win a roster spot because of his experience and a partially guaranteed contract.

However, contrary to published reports, Cleaves' deal isn't guaranteed and he must survive the final cuts like every other free agent before receiving any financial rewards.

A year ago, the coaching staff and several players lobbied management on behalf of Cleaves and Damien Wilkins. The executives were resistant, but ultimately relented. Wilkins won a spot in the rotation, while Cleaves has proven to be a serviceable guard.

Still, the noticeable difference between them is that one has a $1 million guaranteed contract and the other does not, which may ultimately prove to be the deciding factor in who stays and who goes.

[timvp]

Looks like the Spurs let the elusive Long Three slip out of their fingers once again. Felix has done a very good job defending all five positions this preseason. They've had him guarding everyone from Boris Diaw, to Zach Randolph, to Kurt Thomas and he's shut them all down for the most part. Against the Suns, he had a big part in holding Marion to a 1-for-9 first half.

He'd be a perfect fit for the Spurs, but hopefully he makes the Sonics and explodes onto the scene a la Damien Wilkens.

:tu

[Kori Ellis]

At 6 feet 9 and 225 pounds

Not important, but Noel hasn't weighed 225 since his junior year at Fresno St. Some teams asked him to bulk up in this last year so he could bang down low. He weighs about 245.

I'm very proud of him for extending his range this summer. The Sonics asked him to work on his 3's and he did. He's performing very well in their drills in practices and is 4-for-5 from 17 feet and out in the first two preseason games.

Even if he doesn't make the Sonics, if he keeps working *knocks on wood* he'll make it on some NBA team.

[spurschick]

Maybe the Spurs can trade for him in the coming seasons. Kori, subliminally mention Noel's name every time you talk to Pop.

KORI: "Coach Pop, do you (Noel Felix) think that Sean Marks will get (Noel Felix) more playing time during the season?"

POP: "Um, I don't quite know yet. Kori, are you mumbling something under your breath?"

KORI: "Uh, no. I don't really know what you're referring to (Noel Felix)."

[angel_luv]

Maybe the Spurs can trade for him in the coming seasons. Kori, subliminally mention Noel's name every time you talk to Pop.

KORI: "Coach Pop, do you (Noel Felix) think that Sean Marks will get (Noel Felix) more playing time during the season?"

POP: "Um, I don't quite know yet. Kori, are you mumbling something under your breath?"

KORI: "Uh, no. I don't really know what you're referring to (Noel Felix)."


hahaha!

Good job Noel, He's making people take notice! = )

[lilmads]

i hope he gets better asap and I'm happy to hear that it's nothing too serious : )

[ChumpDumper]

Felix to Seattle is annoying seeing the SF depth they already have.

Orlando takes the freaking cake for long SF/tweeners though.

Grant Hill 6'8" 225
Hedo Turkoglu 6'10" 220(-260, depending on taco availability)
Stacy Augmon 6'8" 213
Pat Garrity 6'9" 238
Bo Outlaw 6'8" 220
Terence Morris 6'9" 221