In the Knicks court of law and lineups, Raymond Felton is innocent until proven guilty.
So the point guard who was arraigned Tuesday evening on two gun charges, is expected to practice Wednesday and then play for the Knicks in Miami Thursday, The Post has learned.
That may have been the only bright spot for Felton in recent tumultuous weeks. Felton surrendered to police early Tuesday and then was charged with two counts of weapons possession, one felony and one misdemeanor — facing a maximum of seven years in prison. Felton’s case was adjourned until June 2 and the Knicks point guard left Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday night on $25,000 cash bond, posted by his mother.
Felton, under a restraining order, departed without commenting on the latest troubling saga that began when his estranged wife, Ariane Raymondo-Felton, who recently filed for divorce, allegedly brought his unlicensed handgun to police at the 20th Precinct on the Upper West Side.
Now the consequences begin.
The NBA is going to wait to see what the legal ramifications are for Felton. So, because there are no travel restrictions, Felton is expected to play against the Heat. The Knicks declined to issue any comment Tuesday.
In the league’s most notorious gun case, that of Gilbert Arenas in 2010, the then Wizards’ guard was suspended in January for the remainder of the season. But Arenas and teammate Javaris Crittenton brought weapons into an NBA locker room.
“I don’t know any more than what I’ve read about it,” Rod Thorn, the NBA’s president of basketball operations, said. “I don’t know what the police are doing and … until something is done along those [legal] lines, the league is not going to do anything because the league is like everybody else — we’re waiting to see what is going to transpire.”
Any penalties would be determined by commissioner Adam Silver. Former Commissioner David Stern declined comment on what action might be taken, saying it would not be appropriate to address the matter.
David Touger, a criminal defense attorney in Manhattan who has extensive experience handling gun charge cases, predicted Felton would have no issue playing Thursday — and beyond. Felton was not required to surrender his passport at his court appearance. Touger, though, said there could be a problem when the Knicks play in Toronto on April 11.
“He’s not allowed to leave the U.S. It’s not a matter of Canada not letting him in, it’s that the U.S. might not let him leave because he’s under arrest and he’s out on bail,” Touger said. “He has to get special permission to do so [leave the country] in his bail package. It’s pretty easy to get permission for him to travel. You have to ask the judge for permission and I’m sure the judge will grant it.”
And long before Felton, who makes $3.63 million this season and is scheduled to make $3.7 million next season and $3.95 on a player option in 2015-16, stepped inside the court at 100 Centre St., he had the NBA player’s union firmly behind him, especially against any possible sanctions by the Knicks.
“We have reached out to Raymond to make sure all his rights are being protected,” acting union director Ron Klempner said. “Charges are charges. Any discipline made based on his arrest would be inappropriate and challenged aggressively. Let the process run its course.”
The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement states teams should not impose discipline on a player solely on the basis the player has been arrested. The CBA also specifically addresses guns in the wake of the Arenas mess. That calls for discipline for bringing a gun to an NBA facility or to any NBA-related business.
Felton also received the support of Plaxico Burress, the former Giant receiver who spent nearly two years in jail after accidentally shooting himself in the leg at a Manhattan nightclub. His suspension by the Giants shortly after the incident was an easy call because he had a gunshot wound.
“I just thought immediately it was an unfortunate situation,” Burress said while appearing on ESPN’s ‘Outside the Lines.’ “I believe that the city of New York will support him and it may not be easy but I believe that he’ll get through it.”
That remains to be seen. Felton has struggled mightily all season and his support from fans has continually declined.
One opposing team executive, though, did not sound supportive and he lashed out at the Knicks.
“I’m not running the Knicks, but they have to start drawing a line in the sand. Look at all the nonsense they put up with in J.R. Smith,” the exec said. “They have to change the culture there.”
Ira Judelson, who posted Felton’s bond, addressed the lack of travel restrictions on the guard.
“He has no travel restrictions whatsoever, there was no passport surrendered,” Judelson said. “If you put up bail with the court, they can restrict your travel. If you put it up with me, I’m responsible for Mr. Felton and I can say, ‘Mr. Felton, go out and score 20 and 10.’ ”
— Additional reporting by Paul Schwartz