Friday November 21 2008 - 11:57am Eastern
If you’ve already read the comments section in my previous blog, some of this may be repetitive for you … but …
Vince Carter is exactly what the Toronto Raptor could use right now.
It’s not going to happen. But, that kind of player - an athletic 2-3 that can break his man down off the dribble and create his own shot; a guy that can get you 18-20-25 points on any given night.
That’s VC.
It won’t happen though.
At the risk of breaking my own rule and talking “fantasy trades” / scenarios … let’s just say that the Raptors aren’t going to give up Andrea Bargnani for Carter. And they shouldn’t. Not only would the salaries not match (Toronto would have to throw in a other guys to make it work) but Toronto would then be hamstrung by VC’s contract as well. Carter is locked up through 2010-2011 and the Nets have a team option for 2011-2012. If, hypothetically, the Raps went after the-man-formerly-known-as “Air Canada”, their financial flexibility would be gone for the Chris Bosh-Dwyane Wade-LeBron James, et al sweepstakes in two seasons.
Not that it really matters … but … I don’t imagine too many fans would be thrilled with the move anyway. While some would welcome Vince back with open arms, I assume a great deal would still be too hurt by the way VC left town and they’d want nothing to do with him.
Carter handled his exit from T.O. poorly, but he’s still a premier scorer (Top 10 in the NBA) and he plays unselfish ball as well … averaging more than 5 assists per game this season (5.4). In fact, last year he averaged a career-high 5.1 assists. That total is up this year, but we’ll see it he keeps it up.
On top of all of that … one of the biggest knocks on Carter when he was a Raptor - especially in his final season or two - was his “toughness” and durability. But he has squashed that stigma since going to Jersey:
2004/05 - 77 games played (20 with Toronto, 57 with NJ)
2005/06 - 79 games played
2006/07 - 82 games played
2007/08 - 76 games played
2008/09 - 10 for 10 … and counting
Carter is not coming back to Toronto. There will be no return engagement. But he’s still a valuable piece that SOME team in the league would love to have. And I don’t think that team is NJ. With that club going through a re-build, moving VC is in their best interests.
If I had to guess, I’d say he’s not in a Nets uniform by the time the February trade deadline rolls around.
Cleveland? The Clippers (not likely given the current rumors of the 3-way blockbuster they’re involved in)? Dallas? Portland? Golden State? Charlotte?
Time will tell.
Until then … I’m sure the fans in Toronto will greet Carter at the ACC with as much venom as ever.
E. Smith
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A VC/DWade/PPierce clone would do nicely, but I’m afraid the only way is to draft talent, and let it grow.
That kind of talent in a FA or trade is just 2 expenive unless BC/MLSE take the LAL or Boston approach to win & the hell with the cost.
- Johnn19Can you believe that VC’s been gone since 2004? And we’re still booing him so lustily?
And what’s the Raptors’ window to win it all, do you think? Do we need to go all in and get a star (or semi-star) now?
- Jeff WI myself am over the VC fiasco but still enjoy the boos directed at him whenever he’s in town
- TomGfromBramptonWould you let it go already! How long has it been..? VC continues to fuel the media when he comes to town. I really don’t give a rats a$$! I just want the win baby!
- VCISGONEAhhh … yes … the “media” argument. I always love that one.
You’re right, every time the Nets - and Carter - come to town it’s the 19,800 members of the media booing and carrying on.
- E. SmithIf thats what you think eric fine, but its rather nieve of you to assume 19,800 people are there to boo VC. Of course you couldn’t instead imagine a family attending a basketball game for the love of the sport and team. After all I love my 4 year old cursing and carrying on! Ithink your selling some fans short.
- VCISGONE“The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”- Malcolm X
Well, I will give you this:
(a) I shouldn’t have generalized. You’re right, not all 19,800 are booing VC. But I think it’s fair to say that - at the very least - half of the arena (if not more) is. So, that’s 10,000 booing and carrying on
10,000 not booing.
But the 10,000 that are, will always drown out everyone else
(b) as much respect and admiration I have for somebody like Malcolm X, if you don’t want me generalizing (for which I just apologized for) … then you shouldn’t generalize … and nor should Malcolm X. that’s what I hate “the media”.
There is “good media” media and there is “bad media” … just as there are good fans and bad fans.
Not all of the media paint the innocent guilty, and the guilty innocent
- E. SmithFirst of all Carter’s contract is at 17M/yr and ends the summer after LBJ, any team which wants to take a shot at LBJ, Bosh, Wade etc will probably not look to acquire him.
Yes, his numbers are better in NJ but if you watch the Nets games its the same old VC settling for jumpers when it matters the most. The Nets team over the last couple years have had some pretty decent talent on there but Kiki was still forced to blow it up, why? Because VC is not the player you’ll win anything with. I believe the trade rumours that had Kiki shopping VC but nobody biting. He was probably getting the same offers as Babcock got.
There’s probably a team out there that incorrectly thinks that VC is the missing piece and might roll the dice on him only to find out it was a bait-and-switch - you know, like NJ did.
- ArsenalistGet real, the raptors wont aquire wade james or bosh as FA. The time to win is now via trades.
- Rob from BrantfordEric, I’m just wondering, where would the Raptors be if they had decided to keep Vince Carter? Do you think the Raptors would be in better shape? worse shape?
- andrewGet Read? Okay Rob.
You’re out to lunch if you don’t think the Raptors have a chance of re-signing Bosh
- E. SmithHonestly Andrew, that’s impossible to say.
He wanted out. He asked for the trade.
I think they’d be better off had they got SOMETHING … ANYTHING in that deal that could contribute to this club on a nightly basis. You could argue whether Joey Graham does or doesn’t fit that bill, but, Williams, Williams, and Mourning sure didn’t!
- E. SmithI hate VC for what he did to force overtime.
- terry brennanEric,
I was watching the WIzards/Rockets game tonight and after the game they went to the ESPN studios and Jalen Rose said that “credible sources” have told him that LBJ AND Chris Bosh will be New YOrk Knicks in 2010.
is this significant? Or could Jalen’s “sources” just be wrong?
- Mike