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The 2009-10 New York Knicks purged their roster in anticipation of the free agent bonanza of 2010.  It’s been well documented the Knicks were pursuing LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.  It’s also been well documented the Knicks missed out on all three.  The one star free agent they did land, Amar’e Stoudemire, has exceeded most expectations and is expected to make another trip to the All-Star Game.

Only landing one star was seen as striking out in free agency for the Knicks, at least until the season started.  Now the Knicks are being viewed as having made one of the best signing’s of the offseason, Ray Felton.  As HOOPSWORLD’s Jason Fleming wrote, he could be viewed as the most cost efficient player in the league.

Felton’s decision to come to New York was an easy one; after all this wasn’t the first time the Knicks were interested in him.

"They’ve been wanting me for a while now over the years.  They’ve been trying to do things with the (Charlotte) Bobcats but it fell through," Felton told HOOPSWORLD.  "It’s just been one of those things were it’s just nice to know that a team wants you like that and then be able to come here with the guys that we have.

"We’ve got a bunch of young guys that are hungry, a bunch of young guys that want to get better. They listen, they look at me as their leader, their vet.  They just take heed of everything I explain to them and everything I demand."

Coming from Charlotte, the lure of the Big Apple could have derailed Felton, but he’s taken measures to assure that basketball is his main focus.

"I know I come from a country boy to the big city, but the transition has been great.  I stay out in White Plains; I don’t even stay in the city.  I stay far away from the chaos."

Through the first 32 games of the season Felton is averaging career-highs in points and assists, some of which can be attributed to the connection he has in the pick-and-roll with Stoudemire.

"The communication that we have on the screen and roll, just picking people apart, it’s been fun.  You have a guy like that, that can finish the way he does, catches the ball the way he does - in my opinion he is the best finisher in the league, especially at his position.

"The way he scores, he’s got a jump shot that a lot of people didn’t know about, he’s showing that this year, he’s got a great face-up game.  You know he will dunk on you, post up moves - it’s an all-around game."

There is a downside to having one of the games most dangerous pick and rolls, with one of the games best big men.

{AUTHOR_BOX}"We are doing something right, so now they are double teaming me off the screen and roll and now they are triple teaming him when he rolls to the basket.  Those things get frustrating at times."

Felton has high praise for his partner and if he was given an MVP vote, it would go straight to his teammate.

"If the season ended today he would be the MVP of the league.  Hands down. You may argue some other guys, but for what he’s done to change our team, to help our team, there’s nobody done that this year.  So in my opinion he’s the league’s MVP thus far in this season."

Felton may not be in the MVP talk, but with the way he is playing the All-Star Game is a definite possibility.

"That’s one thing I’ve always spoken on, the All-Star stuff.  If it happens it would be great, I would love to go to L.A. and represent the New York Knicks along with Amar’e, but at the same time if it doesn’t happen, whatever."

For Felton individual achievements aren’t nearly as important as the bottom-line: wins and losses.

"To win games, that’s my biggest thing, I want to win and that’s what we are doing."

If the Knicks continue on their current pace they will be back in the playoffs for the first time since the 2003-04 season.

"That’s the goal.  From day one that’s what I go for.  That’s what the hard work is for in practice, that’s what the hard work in training camp is for, that’s the biggest thing."

Felton isn’t just thinking about making the playoffs as a Knick this season, but for seasons to come.

"God has blessed me, and I think he has put me in my home now, and I think this is where I should be, and this is where I’m going to be for a while now."

The Knicks may have missed out on the so-called ‘Big Three Free Agents,’ but they still ended up with two stars.  Stoudemire may get most of the headlines, but without Felton there wouldn’t be a Knicks’ resurgence.