http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/story/255941p-219180c.html

Knicks have outside shot at Vince

BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

The best chance the Knicks may have of bringing Vince Carter to New York this year is to smuggle him across the border after tonight's game in Toronto.

Carter is playing and talking his way out of Toronto, but a deal with the Knicks remains a longshot, even though Carter told Raptors management last summer that he wanted to be traded to New York.

Isiah Thomas, who is always looking to upgrade his roster and add a legitimate superstar, is said to be interested in dealing for Carter. But the Knicks president is realistic about his chances, especially since Thomas would have to part with his best player, Stephon Marbury. Toronto wants no part of Allan Houston.

The Raptors, however, are coming to the realization that they may not get equal value for Carter, whose game and production have declined for three years. Toronto talked to the Portland Trail Blazers about a deal for Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Other reports had the Raptors looking to trade Carter, Jalen Rose, Milt Palacio and Jerome Moiso for Abdur-Rahim, Nick Van Exel, Derek Anderson and Vladimir Stepania.

Abdur-Rahim appeals to the Raptors because his contract expires after the season. The Knicks traded all of their expiring contracts in last summer's deal for Jamal Crawford.

The Knicks are willing to trade Tim Thomas, whose value has never been lower. He also has been booed repeatedly at home games. Some executives around the league feel that a change of scenery and a change of positions - from small forward to power forward - will benefit Thomas.

A Carter-for-Thomas trade would not have seemed plausible over the summer, but Toronto may be willing to make the move if the Knicks would consider taking on Rose's contract. Coincidentally, Carter criticized Knicks coach Lenny Wilkens after Wilkens left the Raptors, saying that the game had passed the coach by. Also, Rose feuded with Isiah Thomas, who was then coach of the Pacers and orchestrated a trade that sent Rose to Chicago.

Carter, 27, is averaging a career-low 14.5 points after scoring 25points last night in a 102-86 loss in Washington. He also has been benched three times in the fourth quarter by new coach Sam Mitchell, including Sunday's victory over San Antonio, when the Raptors overcame a 19-point deficit.

Even Carter's adoring public in Canada is starting to turn on him. Recently at Air Canada Centre, a fan held up a sign that read: "Trade Vince, He's Got No Heart."

"I just have to go out there and play hard for this team," Carter told Toronto reporters. "If they boo, they boo. If they don't, they don't."

Carter's aloof behavior is alienating fans and people in his own organization. Carter caused a stir by wearing an iPod during pregame warmups before the NBA told him to stop listening to music before games. Recently, Carter, one of the league's most entertaining players, made a flippant remark that he won't dunk anymore.

Carter would probably reconsider if Madison Square Garden were to become his home arena.

"I like New York, but there are plenty of NBA cities I'd like to play in," Carter said.

Originally published on November 24, 2004

These contracts are not worth taking on:

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/toronto.htm

Jalen Rose

2004-05: $14,487,000

2005-06: $15,694,250

2006-07: $16,901,500


Vince Carter

2004-05: $12,584,688

2005-06: $13,843,157

2006-07: $15,101,626

2007-08: $16,360,095 (player option)

we'd better stay away from those guys. rose is a cancer and carter, though talented, would bring nothing we already have.

I say, let's seat and watch our team gelling and growing. Unless we can tarde for big, we're not under any kind of pressure to make a trade.

imagine that, our team is starting to click. in a few weeks, our 1st player off the bench will be allan houston. we still have a lot of progress margin to mess with our team again.

Although I mentioned it in one of my threads yesterday, but I really don't believe that Isiah is crazy enough to trade for Rose and Vince together. TT for Vince is a no brainer, but Rose for Penny??? hell no. Penny is a savvy vet whom is actually mentoring our young ballers. Forget about Rose.

Posted by Bonn1997:

When I read the title, I thought this was gonna be a thread about Vin Baker. Maybe an "outside shot at Vin" being traded for a good PF/C. You got my hopes up and then you ruined it by talking about Vince Carter and Jalen Rose!

I was thinking the same thing!!!!

Toronto will never trade VC for TT OR penny are you guys crazy? They will get back a named player or VC will stay put in Toronto. Zeke know what Toronto is looking for if Carter leaves and the only thing we have is Marbury and that ain't happening. Anyways they have Rafer Alston doing it well in Toronto. KNICKS WILL NEVER SEE VC IN UNIFORM.

no thanks.

we're playing well. if we make any move it's to improve the frontcourt. that's all. no need for wing men.

Half Man/Half Woman

lol!

honestly speaking though, i agree w/playa...there's no way the Knicks will have any shot at Vince unless they offer up Marbury.

Posted by OasisBU:

This team already had its share of that attitude - and now thats its over and done with I see no reason to bring it back. All we need is a center or a dominant PF. I would prefer a center keeping cr8zy eyes as the PF because I think (I cant believe I am saying this) that he fits the team well. If only Patrick were young again..this team would be amazing.

Why a PF? I think we're ok there. Between Kurt and Sweets, we're
covered more than adequately.

A center, yes. Even tho Nazr is holding his own lately,
he's going to get GROSSLY outmatched when he plays against
any real centers out there, esp, come playoff time.

And we need to do something about the 3-spot. TT sucks. And
unless Ariza is up to taking the role, or Wilkens is happy with
inserting Houston in there, its our second weakest position.
Hence this discussion about Carter.


While I'm not sure what I'd be willing to give up to get him,
I do think this guy is going to come back once he gets out of
Toronto. He's been stuck out in Siberia for TOO long, and just
wants out. And the thing about dunking, that will last only
until he gets traded. Its like he's twisting management's arm
gently. I.e., I'll score because that's what I'm paid to do,
but I'm not going to entertain the fans more than I have to.

Enyspree is right about the center position in the playoffs. Come crunch time, unless Nazr gets better (and he is) then we need a good defensive man in the middle. The chemistry is right now, don't fiddle with it unless it is someone special.