A week later and Vince Carter still wants out of Toronto. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1835919 ESPN's David Aldridge reported Wednesday that a league source close to the situation says Carter is still seeking a trade, in part because Carter was promised a say in management decisions after last season and feels the team has reneged on that promise. The strife stems from a meeting Carter apparently had with senior members of the Raptors organization and of the team's parent company, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, at the end of the regular season. According to the source, Carter was told at that meeting that he would be part of the franchise's search for a new general manager and coach, but Carter was not consulted before the team hired Rob Babcock to be its GM. Babcock then hired Sam Mitchell in late June to be the team's head coach. The source claims that Carter's gripe is with the team and its process, not the new GM or coach. "This has nothing to do with Rob Babcock," the source said. "This isn't Rob Babcock versus Dr. J (Carter had said in May that he wanted the Raptors to consider Julius Erving for the GM position). This is about the process, and how they've treated Vince." Last Thursday, Aldridge reported that Carter had requested a trade after reportedly expressing displeasure with Babcock's hiring and with the selection of Rafael Arajuo with the No. 8 pick in last month's NBA draft. "He wants out desperately," a source said last week. "He doesn't like the direction of the team." The Raptors have been adamant that they have no plans or desire to trade Carter, who has been a fan favorite in Canada since being traded from the Golden State Warriors on draft night in 1998. "He's a marquee player, and he puts fans in the seats," Babcock said last week. "The only way we trade him is if we get something similar back."
ESPN is re-hashing stories coming out of the local press in Toronto. It has been confirmed that Carter has not demanded a trade and never expected to have final say in any hirings. His unhappiness stems pretty much with the treatment he has received by management, namely VP Richard Peddie who fans have been trying to get fired for some time. Look - any player who gets a new GM and his 3rd coach in 3 years is going to wonder about the direction the team is going in. If they're promised one thing and then receive another, it more than likey causes frustration/anger of some sort because it creates uncertainty about their future. Carter has stated his first choice is to stay since he genuinely likes to be in Toronto, but not if he's not wanted. If the team decides that winning can wait and development is key, then apparently Carter is willing to work with the team in the hopes that co-operation allows him to influence where get is dealt to. It all sounds pretty reasonable if you ask me. Would you rather have a player who publicly blasts his teammates and demands to be sent to a winner? What about going public and whining about where they might get traded? Rox fans know first hand that it only serves to damage the player's reputation and hurts the teams involved, possibly preventing either side from getting full value. That said - Babcock has stated clearly that he has no plans to trade Vince just for the sake of doing so. Carter himself was quoted in a Daytona newspaper that after he met the new GM, they both agreed to give each other a chance and see where the season takes them. This is either someone around Carter who is shooting their mouth off, or the Toronto media hoping that if they treat him bad enough that Carter will actually make their wishes happen. They don't like him much because he isn't a good interview. He seems to mistrust the media and often gives dismissive answers or lets others do the talking for him (like his mom). He's partly to blame for the poor relationship he has with the media, but that doesn't give them a free pass to try and run the guy out of town.
purplefever, That was a good excuse the first time we heard these reports. But this is the second time. One thing is very clear: Carter is unhappy. Peddie said it himself. He said that Vince is unhappy that he wasn't involved in hiring a coach or a GM. Whether he DEMANDED a trade? We don't know. We can't prove it, but we can't DISprove. However, citing the fact that he's unhappy with the organization, the lack of success, and another draft pick he doesn't support, he's more likely to have demanded a trade than to be happy.
Where could he go? No one has a trade asset like that. Would Ray Allen be happy with Alston, Rose and Bosh? Maybe Rashard + Flip + Booth. That makes more sense. VC plus some crap for the above. Then Seattle can move Allen somewhere else for something big. Or - probably - Toronto also wants a big - except they need a center, not a forward like SAR or Webber. VC for Brad Miller + crap? It's possible, but I'd bet they'd rather just move Webber for Allen.
Carter got to watch T-Mac demand a trade to the Rockets so that he can play with Apocalypse Yao, so that had to feed the fire; Carter's stuck on a dog-crap team.
Indiana seems like a logical trading partner for Carter. They've got some youngsters (Harrington, Bender, Jones, Tinsley) ready to have breakout seasons that Toronto would be interested in.
What you say is true, but Toronto isn't exactly an NBA hotbed, and Carter, mopey and hurt as he often is, is that team's only draw. So the Raptors might be in a bind, unless they can land another All-Star.
Wasn't Larry David doing a good coaching job for them? Did he get fired or something? What happened there?
That's a pretty ignorant remark. Even if Carter is eventually dealt, there is no chance that the Raptors will leave for the US. Toronto will support a winner regardless of who is on the team, though there is no doubt that a lot of the peripheral fans might drop off initially. They are on sound financal footing and the ownership group would keep them around just fill the arena an extra 41 days a year. There's talk that MLSE (the parent company) might be sold off for a billion or more. You guys do realize that VC has missed fewer games this past season than other SGs like Iverson, Allen, Kobe and TMac? Sane These repeated reports could not possibly have come from Carter since he was married on the weekend and is off on a honeymoon. Had he taken the time to properly adress the situation the first time, it never would have lingered and been re-hashed a second time around.
i read a report saying they won't deal him unless its for another star player who can keep fans in seats. i don't see that happening. the best they can hope for is to get a couple of good players in return if they trade him. the grizz would be a prime partner for this trade. battier and bonzi would be a good starting point.
i live in t.o. i heard the guy said he needs to "consult" with an advisor... anyways he will get traded...the problem is his value is at a low point....the guy will never dunk like he did(that's a fact...friend knows his doctor he went to in T.O)...he probably will play for a little while in T.O...and try to up his value so there will be some suitors for him.. point is he will be traded...i think his wifie does'nt like the freezing cold.
Charles said that...and its "half man, half season" no the. Sorry for being so anal, but I cant stand misquoting.
Its really sad that he wont be able to do the acrobatics that he used to do. He was finally developing a good shot. If it werent for those injuries he could be a good all around guard.
