Posted: Friday December 17, 2004 10:34PM; Updated: Saturday December 18, 2004 12:03PM 
| Trade Analysis: Carter heads south of the border |
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RAPTORS GET:
Alonzo Mourning -- C
Aaron Wiliams -- PF
Eric Williams -- SF
Two first-round picks |
NETS GET:
Vince Carter -- SG
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| '04-05 |
G |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
BPG |
FG% |
FT% |
| Mourning |
18 |
10.4 |
7.1 |
0.8 |
2.3 |
45.3 |
59.3 |
| A. Williams |
19 |
2.0 |
1.6 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
51.9 |
90.0 |
| E. Williams |
21 |
12.6 |
4.5 |
2.0 |
0.1 |
47.0 |
68.5 |
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| '04-05 |
G |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
FG% |
FT% |
| Carter |
79 |
15.8 |
3.3 |
3.0 |
0.8 |
41.1 |
69.4 |
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| WHY THE RAPTORS MADE THE DEAL |
WHY THE NETS MADE THE DEAL |
To get rid of Carter. New GM Rob Babcock and new coach Sam Mitchell were brought in to start a new era in Toronto, and it was clear from the get-go that Carter was never going to sign on to their program. With four years and $57.9 million left on his contract, he was too expensive to keep around. They no doubt would have liked to get more in return for a five-time All-Star, but the constant trade rumors were becoming a distraction. Plus, Carter's lackluster play was hurting his trade value. By dealing him now, the Raptors can at least get on with their playoff chase.
Mourning, if healthy and willing to play in Toronto, gives the Raptors a rugged true center to take the pressure off young power forward Chris Bosh. If he doesn't want to play, they can trade him for prospects. Meanwhile, the Williamses are both hard-nosed veterans who should fit well into Mitchell's defensive philosophy. Toronto also picks up two first-round picks, giving Babcock more pieces with which to reshape the roster in the future. |
It's not every day a marquee player like Carter lands in your lap. The Nets simply couldn't pass up a chance to keep pace with the rival Knicks and bring some much-needed Vin-sanity to the Meadowlands. Plus, Mourning was unhappy about the Nets' losing ways and had asked for a trade. Now GM Rod Thorn might be able to convince Jason Kidd that the future is bright in New Jersey, and not be put in position where he has to make a bad deal to placate his own superstar.
If Carter plays to his ability, Kidd indeed should be happy. He gives the Nets another top-flight scorer and finisher to run the break with Richard Jefferson, something they sorely lacked since Kenyon Martin left via free agency. Meanwhile, Carter's lack of fire won't be as big an issue since Kidd provides plenty of testosterone.
The bad news for New Jersey is that this trade basically decimates its already thin frontcourt. Jason Collins, Brian Scalabrine and Nenad Krstic now provide the bulk of the rotation down low. That's not going to get it done, even in the East. |
| THE BOTTOM LINE by SI.com's Marty Burns |
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Babcock is going to be criticized for not getting more for Carter, but he felt he had to do something now. If Mourning plays well, and the draft picks turn out to be studs, then he'll be OK. But if 'Zo doesn't want to play in Toronto, or he gets hurt again, Babcock could be stuck with another albatross contract. Either way, the Raptors are better off this season. Carter was not playing well, and he was bringing the team down with his pouting. Toronto has enough firepower in Jalen Rose, Donyell Marshall and Morris Peterson to replace Carter's scoring, and its defense and bench should be improved. With Bosh and Rafer Alston, Toronto could get back in the playoff race. As for the Nets, they get the marquee player they needed to bring some excitement back to New Jersey. Carter, for all his softness, has incredible talent. Freed of the role of team leader, he could thrive with a change of scenery. He also should be highly motivated to prove critics wrong. New Jersey's weak frontcourt will prevent it from going deep in this year's postseason, but if Thorn can add a decent big man this summer, the Nets could be a force in 2005-06. |
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