no question if Carter was healthy and played even 70 games a season. But he's not so Francis definitely. Francis also isn't afraid of physical contact (driving to the basket, etc) like Carter is.
Lets see, Carter is a better finisher, a better defender, a better shooter, a better scorer, passes better for his position, and makes fewer turnovers. Steve gets almost an extra rebound per game. Yeah, I think I will go with Carter. Weisbrod has continually shown himself to be a jackass, and this is just one more example.
Yeah, it would really suck if he didn't defend his marquee player that he just traded for three months ago. Weisbrod's saying all this and then continuing to trade Francis for Carter would make him a jackass. Defending a player he likes? Probably the first honorable thing he's done from the time he took office.
When he's HEALTHY. If I was Weisbrod and you can guaranty that you can give me even a 90% healthy Carter then of course Francis gets shipped out. But Weisbrod is probably also looking at the Magic's payroll and see: Hill, Grant That in itself should scare the beejeezus out of him from thinking about trading for Carter.
He isn't a jackass because he is defending a player he just traded for, he is a jackass because he isn't shipping Francis off for Carter. It isn't that he is not being honorable, it is that he is not being a smart GM.
I'd like to point a couple of things out... First, Carter played 73 games last year and the only games missed were due to ankle sprains after landing on other people's feet. Not to say he's entirely healthy or that he isn't prone to dramatics a couple of times a season, but the "injury prone" label is a bit exaggerated. He played more games last season than Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Ray Allen and yes, even Tracy McGrady - his direct peers at SG. Second, while I agree that VC is less aggressive in going to the basket, I don't believe it is entirely to do with fear. Yes, there is some hesitation as any player might have after being injured - but a greater part of the problem is the piss poor offensive schemes the team has been running. VC basicaly gets an ISO on the wing with a man in his face, a help defender coming from the top and the post defender cheating over to the strong side. Where is he supposed to go when facing a triple team? He has responded to this by becoming a better outside shooter and improved his assist numbers since this "triple team effect" could be used to defend one of the worst offenses in the NBA - averaging a career high 4.8 apg last season. Thirdly, in comparison with Francis, Carter has never been accused of being selfish on the court or ignoring certain team mates. Francis is pretty widely regarded as a selfish chucker who makes poor "point" decisions and ignored the best player on the team - Yao Ming. Iverson has the same "heart" reputation some of you are painting onto Stevie, but many around the league think Iverson causes as many problems as he solves. The Raptors wisley declined an Iverson for Carter swap on more than one occasion while Larry Brown was in Philly. Lastly - it was just speculation by the Sentinel writer that if Carter demanded to go to Orlando, that the Raps would want a best-player for best-player swap and in terms of impact in Toronto, Francis isn't need or wanted, especially after his crybaby drama when drafted by Vancouver. Babcock is not looking to make lateral moves for other "questionable stars" and is wisely holding out. Stevie is likely the last player the Raptors would look to trade for from Orlando. If Carter wants to be moved he'll have to come in and play well in order to up his value and that will result in more wins for the Raptors and better return if a deal is made at some point down the road. That said - I'm surprised at the selective memories around here. I can't remember how many threads I read on this forum where fans were fusious at the way Stevie was playing selfish ball and costing the team wins by not going to Yao or by him and Mobley being chuckers. If it was announced a couple of months back that the Rox were ditching Francis for Carter - sure there would be opposition to it but the majority here would have supported such a move. Many of you were convinced that you'd never win with Francis and wanted him gone regardless of who came back.
