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Mavericks guard Raymond Felton won't serve suspension until healthy

Dallas Mavericks guard Raymond Felton will not be ready to serve his four-game suspension because he is not fully recovered from a high-ankle sprain. 
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Dallas Mavericks point guard Raymond Felton won't be ready to serve his four-game suspension at the beginning of the season because he isn't fully recovered from a high ankle sprain. 

The NBA suspended Felton after he plead guilty to two weapons charges this summer. NBA rules state a player can't start a suspension until he is healthy and ready to play.

Felton, 30, was arrested in New York in February after allegedly threatening his wife with a gun. Authorities charged Felton with felony counts of second-and third-degree criminal possession of a firearm and fourth-degree possession of a firearm, a misdemeanor. 

Felton agreed to plead guilty to charges of attempted criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to community service and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.

Soon after the plea deal was done, New York traded Felton and Tyson Chandler to Dallas for guard Jose Calderon, center Samuel Dalembert, guards Shane Larkin and Wayne Ellington and two draft picks.

Felton hasn't played since Oct. 10 after injuring his ankle in a preseason game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Mavericks are expected to have 13 players for the season opener against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, as Felton will be placed on the inactive list until his suspension begins.

“He’s walking, but he’s quite a ways away,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said about Felton, according to the Dallas Morning News. “We’re going to make sure he’s right. He made big time progress, but we’re not close to him being healthy yet. It’s going to be at least a week, probably longer.”

Felton averaged a career-low 9.7 points and 5.6 assists per game in 65 games with the Knicks last season.

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