KoriEllis
09-28-2004, 01:44 AM
COMMENTARY
By Matt Guokas
NBCSports.com contributor
Updated: 12:10 a.m. ET Sept. 28, 2004
Vince Carter wants to be traded, but I don't see that happening by the start of the new NBA season. Rob Babcock, the Raptors' new general manager, won't get steamrolled by the disgruntled Carter and rush into a bad deal. Carter's talent and his ability to sell tickets mean that if he is dealt, it won't be until a deal comes along that truly benefits Toronto from a personnel and or financial standpoint.
Team interests are paramount
Carter has four years left on his contract, but less than a month before the scheduled start of the Raptors' training camp he declared he wants to be traded, commenting on his Web site that he was not eager to wait while Toronto rebuilds.
Carter's drawing power is vitally important to a basketball franchise that plays second fiddle in Toronto to the NHL's Maple Leafs.
So his desire to leave puts the Raptors in a real tough position, but if Babcock can't make what he feels is a good deal for the franchise, management must hold on to the five-time All-Star as it starts over with a new coach, Sam Mitchell.
Mitchell's plan is to have his team play a run-and-gun style, so if Carter is still a part of the scene in Toronto, he needs to buy into that approach, and excel in it -- something that Babcock feels is certainly a possibility as he has told Carter he will flourish under this system.
Few trade possibilities
There isn't an overwhelming interest in Carter among NBA teams, and there are contract considerations involved when attempting to deal a player who makes the kind of money Carter does -- this season alone he will be paid $12.6 million.
The one exception is the Knicks as team president and general manager Isiah Thomas really wants Carter, but I don't believe New York has the personnel to deal to get him.
If Portland thought it could make good use of Carter it could probably match up a salary swap by dealing power forward Shareff Abdur-Rahim, who is a backup to Zach Randolph, but who also becomes a free agent after this season.
While Abdur-Rahim's salary numbers may pretty much match up to Carter's this season, the Raptors have to be concerned about what amount of money it would take to sign him to a new deal as he is finishing up a six-year, $70 million pact.
They also would be asking themselves if Abdur-Rahim is the kind of player they want to build their team around.
One thing is certain: Abdur-Rahim is not going to sell the number of tickets in Toronto that Carter does.
Seattle sending Ray Allen to Toronto for Carter has also been part of the swap talk making the rounds.
But while a more valuable player than Abdur-Rahim, Allen also does not have the magnetism of Carter to the Raptors ticket-buying fans.
Other whispers have Carter being dealt to New Orleans for Baron Davis (both are signed to long-term deals and are basically due the same amount of money), and Minnesota contemplating moving small forward Wally Szczerbiak and center Michael Olowokandi for Carter.
Present differs from past
Carter's stock as player has declined.
His game has become somewhat suspect because he too often is careless and takes bad shots.
Plus, he's injury prone and it's been nearly four years since he has had an injury-free season.
In the past, there have been some claims by Carter's teammates that he hasn't always played through what others feel are minor injuries, and that he lacks toughness.
Carter's body language and attitude turn off a lot of people.
He is a player who is constantly criticized for settling for too many outside shots, but he does make his fair share of those jumpers.
Carter is a better-than-decent outside shooter, but he takes too many bad perimeter shots and consequently his shooting percentage is only around 40 percent.
Many wonder why someone who is so talented and athletically gifted doesn't drive to the basket more?
Well, when he does drive to the basket, he often takes some hard hits.
So I think with his injury-riddled last few seasons, he tends to favor avoiding a lot of contact and thus chooses to shoot a lot from the outside.
I think opposing teams sense Carter hasn't yet arrived at the conclusion that he has to drive the basket more to get more foul shots and help his team in that fashion.
When looking at Carter today, one sees a different player than the rookie who energized the league when he arrived in the pros for the 1998-99 season.
He was so spectacular his first few years that he drew comparisons to Michael Jordan, particularly since they both played college basketball at North Carolina and they played the same position in the pros.
Comparing the two Tar Heels in their respective early NBA years, Carter was a much better shooter than Jordan, he was more explosive and every bit as spectacular.
From a talent standpoint, Carter had it all, but I think his various knee injuries in his six-year NBA career have taken something away from that talent, especially from his explosiveness.
At 27, Carter is approaching his prime as a player, but he has some wear and tear on him.
I think he can be a better, more productive and winning NBA player by probably putting a little less emphasis on scoring.
I don't believe it's necessary that Carter goes out and scores 25 points a game.
He would be more effective with a little less scoring, a little more passing, and playing better defense as well as getting to the foul line more.
By making the aforementioned adjustments in his game, Carter can gain more respect from his teammates -- respect which I think he has lost over the last three or four years.
Mom's role needs to change
There's also the issue of Carter's mother, who does much more than just sit courtside at her son's games.
She plays a dominating role in Carter's life as a professional basketball player.
She's not shy about making her feelings known and no stranger to the media, even being heard on all-sports radio.
In a sense, she has become the official spokesperson for her son, spreading his views on many topics to whoever cares to listen.
Carter's mom seeks to control things with her son, and a lot of teams just don't want to deal with that.
If Carter intends to push hard for his exit from Toronto, it wouldn't hurt if his mom kept her distance from his professional career.
By Matt Guokas
NBCSports.com contributor
Updated: 12:10 a.m. ET Sept. 28, 2004
Vince Carter wants to be traded, but I don't see that happening by the start of the new NBA season. Rob Babcock, the Raptors' new general manager, won't get steamrolled by the disgruntled Carter and rush into a bad deal. Carter's talent and his ability to sell tickets mean that if he is dealt, it won't be until a deal comes along that truly benefits Toronto from a personnel and or financial standpoint.
Team interests are paramount
Carter has four years left on his contract, but less than a month before the scheduled start of the Raptors' training camp he declared he wants to be traded, commenting on his Web site that he was not eager to wait while Toronto rebuilds.
Carter's drawing power is vitally important to a basketball franchise that plays second fiddle in Toronto to the NHL's Maple Leafs.
So his desire to leave puts the Raptors in a real tough position, but if Babcock can't make what he feels is a good deal for the franchise, management must hold on to the five-time All-Star as it starts over with a new coach, Sam Mitchell.
Mitchell's plan is to have his team play a run-and-gun style, so if Carter is still a part of the scene in Toronto, he needs to buy into that approach, and excel in it -- something that Babcock feels is certainly a possibility as he has told Carter he will flourish under this system.
Few trade possibilities
There isn't an overwhelming interest in Carter among NBA teams, and there are contract considerations involved when attempting to deal a player who makes the kind of money Carter does -- this season alone he will be paid $12.6 million.
The one exception is the Knicks as team president and general manager Isiah Thomas really wants Carter, but I don't believe New York has the personnel to deal to get him.
If Portland thought it could make good use of Carter it could probably match up a salary swap by dealing power forward Shareff Abdur-Rahim, who is a backup to Zach Randolph, but who also becomes a free agent after this season.
While Abdur-Rahim's salary numbers may pretty much match up to Carter's this season, the Raptors have to be concerned about what amount of money it would take to sign him to a new deal as he is finishing up a six-year, $70 million pact.
They also would be asking themselves if Abdur-Rahim is the kind of player they want to build their team around.
One thing is certain: Abdur-Rahim is not going to sell the number of tickets in Toronto that Carter does.
Seattle sending Ray Allen to Toronto for Carter has also been part of the swap talk making the rounds.
But while a more valuable player than Abdur-Rahim, Allen also does not have the magnetism of Carter to the Raptors ticket-buying fans.
Other whispers have Carter being dealt to New Orleans for Baron Davis (both are signed to long-term deals and are basically due the same amount of money), and Minnesota contemplating moving small forward Wally Szczerbiak and center Michael Olowokandi for Carter.
Present differs from past
Carter's stock as player has declined.
His game has become somewhat suspect because he too often is careless and takes bad shots.
Plus, he's injury prone and it's been nearly four years since he has had an injury-free season.
In the past, there have been some claims by Carter's teammates that he hasn't always played through what others feel are minor injuries, and that he lacks toughness.
Carter's body language and attitude turn off a lot of people.
He is a player who is constantly criticized for settling for too many outside shots, but he does make his fair share of those jumpers.
Carter is a better-than-decent outside shooter, but he takes too many bad perimeter shots and consequently his shooting percentage is only around 40 percent.
Many wonder why someone who is so talented and athletically gifted doesn't drive to the basket more?
Well, when he does drive to the basket, he often takes some hard hits.
So I think with his injury-riddled last few seasons, he tends to favor avoiding a lot of contact and thus chooses to shoot a lot from the outside.
I think opposing teams sense Carter hasn't yet arrived at the conclusion that he has to drive the basket more to get more foul shots and help his team in that fashion.
When looking at Carter today, one sees a different player than the rookie who energized the league when he arrived in the pros for the 1998-99 season.
He was so spectacular his first few years that he drew comparisons to Michael Jordan, particularly since they both played college basketball at North Carolina and they played the same position in the pros.
Comparing the two Tar Heels in their respective early NBA years, Carter was a much better shooter than Jordan, he was more explosive and every bit as spectacular.
From a talent standpoint, Carter had it all, but I think his various knee injuries in his six-year NBA career have taken something away from that talent, especially from his explosiveness.
At 27, Carter is approaching his prime as a player, but he has some wear and tear on him.
I think he can be a better, more productive and winning NBA player by probably putting a little less emphasis on scoring.
I don't believe it's necessary that Carter goes out and scores 25 points a game.
He would be more effective with a little less scoring, a little more passing, and playing better defense as well as getting to the foul line more.
By making the aforementioned adjustments in his game, Carter can gain more respect from his teammates -- respect which I think he has lost over the last three or four years.
Mom's role needs to change
There's also the issue of Carter's mother, who does much more than just sit courtside at her son's games.
She plays a dominating role in Carter's life as a professional basketball player.
She's not shy about making her feelings known and no stranger to the media, even being heard on all-sports radio.
In a sense, she has become the official spokesperson for her son, spreading his views on many topics to whoever cares to listen.
Carter's mom seeks to control things with her son, and a lot of teams just don't want to deal with that.
If Carter intends to push hard for his exit from Toronto, it wouldn't hurt if his mom kept her distance from his professional career.